Read Past Town Chatters

Chester Jr./Sr. High Bulletins/ Newsletters

Sierra Small Business Development Center Free Trainings & Workshops

Community Meeting Times

Plumas News 

Plumas County Health COVID Updates

Local resident Bex Pezzulo, Chamber member and owner of "Sincere Cider", braved the cold and wind on Lake Almanor before the snow hit and landed a nice bag of filets for cooking during this holiday season.

Lake Almanor Community Supper
12/02/2021- 12/16/2021

Popsapalooza 2021
12/17/2021

New Year's Eve Fireworks
12/31/2021

Jeff and Dianne Benedictson, Lake Almanor Dental

Lisa Forcino, Crescent Country, Crescent Mills

Mark Lilley, Antlers Motel, Chester

Dana Mollison, Another Man's Treasure, Chester

Suzette Reed, Quarter Circle OS Bookkeeping, Taylorsville

Jennifer Ayres, Mountain Ayres Garden, Taylorsville

Cassandra Barr, Indian Head Properties, LLC., Greenville

Laura Briggs, Coldwell Banker Kehr/O'Brien, Lake Almanor

Last week’s winner to the answer after 3 1/2 years of hard labor using massive local forest trees, Sam Herrald hand built and completed this structure in the early 1960's in Chester was Wendy Luna winning a $10 gift certificate to Forever Home who is also our sponsor this week.

Answer this week from Steve Fleming:  This Chester landmark was built in the late 1920s and today continues to serve our community in the same manner as it did when built. 

Please send question to Trivia@lakealmanorarea.com.

Need sponsors! Please contact katherine@sansoneplus.com to support Town Trivia and get your name in Town Chatter for four consecutive weeks.  We have a great following!

Collins Pine has many positions currently available in our Chester location offering competitive wages, on the job training, and full benefits: 
    Entry Level Clean-Up       $16.70
    Common Labor                $16.70
    Electrician                         $26.95
    Millwright                          $26.95   + .75 for certified welder, + 1.00 for certified crane operator
    Mechanic                          $25.95
    Sawfiler                            $27.70
    Dry Kiln Operator             $22.60
    Lumber Grader                 $24.20 with 1 certificate
    $24.95 with 2 certificates
    $25.70 with 3 certificates
    $26.45 with 4 certificates
   Additional $0.60 per hour for 2nd shift (all positions).


Chester Fire Department is hiring. Please visit chester.specialdistrict.org/

 

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Mortgage Insurance Program for Disaster Victims Section 203(H) is open for survivors to apply within a year of the Presidential disaster declaration (8/24/21 – Lassen, Nevada, Placer and Plumas Counties). This program provides mortgage insurance to protect lenders against the risk of default on mortgages to qualified disaster survivors. Go to this link for more information: 
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/ins/203h-dft

Phase II, Debris Removal & Property Clean-Up
Winter is approaching and Plumas County is working closely with CalOES to get those who qualify signed up for the Right of Entry to get their properties cleaned up. The Dixie Fire left a massive amount of debris to be cleaned up and you are encouraged to sign up and complete the Right of Entry form or contact Plumas County if you will be using the alternate program. There will be a deadline!  Go to https://plumascounty.us/2880/Debris-Removal-Programs and reach out to Plumas County staff if you have any questions. They can be reached at (530) 283-7080, or by email at ROE@countyofplumas.com

Plumas County Dixie Fire Resource List
Click Here.

Plumas Crisis & Intervention Resource Centers
Quincy: 175 Main St, (530) 283-5515: Resource mitigation
Portola: 165 Ridge Street, (530) 832-1827: Resource mitigation
Loyalton: 513 Main Street, (530) 993-1237: Domestic violence help
24/7 Crisis Line: (877) 757-0029
Mental Health Crisis Line: (530) 283-6307

Alliance for Workforce Development, Inc. Resources
If you were affected by the Dixie Fire and are displaced from your job or need help with employment, training, or assistance applying for unemployment, call (530) 283-1606 or email afwdcontact@ncen.org

Damage Assessment Maps

Dixie Fire Structure Status Map (CAL FIRE)
https://tinyurl.com/2m9en9t4

Recovery Information

Plumas County Recovery Information
https://tinyurl.com/c8c8s5rd

Plumas County Resources:

• Plumas County Website: https://www.plumascounty.us/
• Sheriff Website: https://plumascounty.us/587/Sheriff-Coroner
• Sheriff Dixie Fire Information: https://www.plumascounty.usDixie-Fire-Information
• Sheriff Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plumascountysheriff
• Plumas National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/plumas
• Lassen National Forest: https://www.facebook.com/LassenNF

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.

The Lake Almanor Area Chamber introduced a fireworks show on New Year's Eve 2020. We received an overwhelming response of fantastic reviews, so we decided to make it an annual event! We are thrilled to present the 2021 New Year's Eve Fireworks Show.

When you donate to the fireworks shows, your dollars go directly toward the cost of the fireworks. Please visit the link below to donate. Every little bit helps. Thank you for your donations!

Special THANKS to our sponsors!

Chester Fire

Community Partners:
Collins Pine
Coldwell Banker Kehr/O'Brien
Rouland Insurance
Seneca Healthcare District

Platinum Members:
Ayoobs Intermountain Hardware
Lake Almanor Ace Hardware
Olah Construction
Tantardino's

Business Gold Members:
Antlers Motel
Bailey Creek Golf Course

Business Silver Members:
Almanor Girl
Another Man's Treasure
At The Branch
Cravings
Eric S Dunbar DDS/ Peninsula Family Dental
Five Star Bank
Lake Almanor Brokers
Mill Creek Resort
Plumas Bank
 

DONATE TO THE 2021 SHOW NOW ON PAYPAL

Remember last years show?  Take a peek on our Facebook page.

Collins Pine celebrates retiree Mike McDonald, dry kiln lead. 24+ years service.

Canyon Dam Boat Launch Opens
We echo John Crotty's sentiment, "Thanks to the USFS for your efforts, one more step in the healing process of our fishing/boating community. As in past years the ramp is not a top priority with snow removal and it may take a couple of days after big snow events before it gets plowed."

Things Are Looking Good at Coppervale
Coppervale has a base depth of 22 inches with more on the way today. Keep checking their status and the snow phone for opening updates. https://www.facebook.com/Coppervale-Ski-Area-Page-284635502051741

Highway 70 Closed Again
The slide location on State Route 70 in the Feather River Canyon near the Butte/Plumas County line became active early Monday morning. State Route 70 was closed between Jarbo Gap and the Greenville Wye. Caltrans and the contractor are assessing the area. There is no current estimated time of reopening the highway.

Elks Crab Feed, January 8
The Annual Crab Feed at the Almanor Elks Lodge in Chester will be held on January 8. Proceeds from the Crab Feed go toward Elks scholarships to high school students across the area. Tickets are available at Rouland Insurance and Edward Jones. Seating is limited and tickets are going fast.

B&B Booksellers Winter Hours
B&B Booksellers will be open Thursday through Sunday 10am-4pm this week; Thursday Dec. 23 from 10am-4pm; Christmas Eve 10am- 2pm. Closed Christmas Day through the new year. Complimentary coffee available.

Cravings Closed Until the New Year, but Dinner Options Available for Christmas and New Year's Eve
Cravings is closed until after Christmas due to catering Christmas events.
Christmas dinner take away option will be available soon. 
New Year's Eve prime rib dinner details will be available soon. 

North Shore Campground Opens for Reservations
Online reservations will begin January 15, 2022! At this time, please be patient as their software is currently being updated. Their internet and phones are still hit or miss as the lines are being repaired as quickly as possible given that most of them were burned during the Dixie Fire. Right now please send all inquiries to: info@northshorecampground.com

Hazardous Tree Removal Info
Jerry Sipe, Plumas County Director of Emergency Management and Environmental Health, hosts CalOES representative giving us more information about the Hazardous Tree Removal Program. Watch the YouTube Vidoe here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9ZIRCb9Ahs



Chester Cemetery District is on the Move
New director of the Chester Cemetery Board, Ken Wilson, shown here standing next to interim manager David Price, and new General Manager Wes Scott, are highlighted in Plumas News. To read the full article Click Here. 


Clean Up At The Fish Pens
Clean up at the Almanor Fishing Association fish pens located at Hamilton Branch. The AFA fish pen program is the longest running, most successful fish pen program in the state.


Plumas Child Abuse Prevention Council Holds Creative Arts Contest
Plumas County youth are invited to participate in a Creative Arts Contest for the holidays, hosted by the Plumas Child Abuse Prevention Council.  Age categories are as follows: 4 and under, 5 to 7, 8 to 10, 11 to 13, 14 and up. To learn more, visit plumaschildren.org/
 

Plumas County Library Winter Book Giveaway
This year the library is asking patrons to decorate a snowflake, return it to the library (during open hours) and receive a free book. The giveaway will be held at each branch from Dec. 1 – 30. The theme is “Books are unique just like Snowflakes.”  The designed snowflakes will be displayed in the library windows. You can pick up a blank snowflake at any branch or print them at  www.plumascounty.us/593

For daily (and sometimes hourly) news and information, please visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lakealmanorarea

Mark you calendars for December 16th, 5:30-7:30 at the Greenville Elementary School. Like the Dixie Fire Collaborative Facebook page to stay up on the progress of the collaborative and learn how you can take part. A zoom link to this meeting will be posted soon.  https://www.facebook.com/Dixie-Fire-Collaborative-109054471619450

Lake  Almanor Elks Donate to the Wildfire Fund
The Almanor Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund received an ENF Grant from the Lake Almanor Elks. Pictured above are Budd Wasson, Elk Secretary, Susan Bryner and Shawn McKenzie, Directors of The Almanor Foundation, Kathy Wasson, and Terry Parsons, Exalted Ruler. We are thankful for the work of the Elks in both assisting our fire survivors and donating money to our Relief funds. 

Grants Distributed Through the Funders Roundtable
The Almanor Basin Food Pantry lost over $1,000 dollars in frozen food during the power outages of the Dixie Fire. The Food Pantry serves the food needs of the people of the Almanor Basin and has seen the demand for its services increase after the fire. On December 2nd, the Dixie Fire Roundtable of Funders approved a $5,000 grant to the Food Pantry to allow them to purchase and install a generator to keep the loss of food to a minimum during any future power outages. Funds for the grant were contributed by The Almanor Foundation, The North Valley Community Foundation, The Tahoe-Truckee Community Foundation and United Way of No. Calif.

See all grants issued since the Dixie Fire at https://almanorfoundation.com/grants-issued

If your organization would like to submit for a grant opportunity, visit https://almanorfoundation.com/wildfire-relief-fund for more information, or write to Admin@TheAlmanorFoundation.org

Social Safety Net Needs Assessment Contract Awarded
At the December 2nd meeting of the Funders Roundtable RFP's for the Social Safety Net Needs Assessment were reviewed. Morrison and Company of Chico were awarded the contract.

Morrison will conduct qualitative, quantitative, and secondary research on the pre and post-fire status of the social safety net in Plumas County. The analysis will include research on all active nonprofits working on direct disaster responses as well as defined sub-fields.They will interview Plumas County officials in order to facilitate an understanding of the issues impacting the social safety net in Plumas County, analyze results, and identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to Plumas County’s social safety net.  

They will then provide recommendations for philanthropic (and other) investment for funders in the long-term strategy of supporting the non-profit safety net in Plumas County. A final report of results will be available to funders in March.

 

12/12/2021
Lake level is currently sitting at 4476.49 up 2/10’s of an inch from last week, last year at this time lake level was 4477.95 and as recently as October of 2015 the lake held less water than it does today. Water temp hovers around the 44 degree mark and visibility is unchanged.
Now for a little good news, the Canyon Dam boat ramp was opened up this past week and Highway 70 through the Canyon was opened as well. We are expecting to receive in excess of three feet of (much needed) snow at lake level over the next few days which will impact travel and launching. Plumas Pines removed their docks this past week, Todd and Jacob went above and beyond to assist fishermen in 2021 including hosting the Wild West Bass Tournament in April and leaving their dock in as long as possible to assist us fishermen.

There was little boat pressure this past week and fishing remained good. The fish are migrating towards the south end of the lake and are staying in deeper water off shore. Shore fishing at Hamilton Branch has been slow; this weather system should get fish into the coves around the dam.

I put my snow tires on this past week; if you are traveling to Plumas County make sure you have chains for your vehicles and boat trailers. Hazardous tree and debris removal will be put on hold for at least this next week and traffic on Almanor and our roads will be light.