Here are some newspaper stories published this week in years past.

Activists criticize logging project

By Wendell Nielson

The new retirement facility to be built on seven acres next to Feather River Hospital is just the kind of development local activists hope to prevent by establishing the Town of Paradise Tree Preservation Ordinance, to be voted on this November.

Approximately 480 trees will be clearcut on seven acres north of the hospital to make room for the center.

Activist Al Braun says this follows a trend toward more logging in Paradise, a trend that is happening because of a weakness in the town’s current tree ordinance.

Braun said part of the problem with the current ordinance is that it is too easily changed by the Town Council. He said it has been changed about 11 times.

“Each change has been to help developers,” he said. “One of the big weaknesses is that the council can tinker with it and change it at will. With the new ordinance, any change has to go to a vote.”

Braun said that last year over 2,000 trees were cut down in Paradise.

“They keep that up for ten years, that’s 20,000 trees cut down,” he said. “At that rate of cutting, the forest is going to disappear before our very eyes. It will take more than a lifetime for a tree to be replaced to equal the tree (that was there previously).”

The new ordinance would designate an urban forester to inspect the areas before and after trees are cut. …

— Paradise Post, July 22, 2000

Ga-ga over goats

There’s lots to do in Bidwell Park. You can take a bike ride, go for a swim, admire the scenery or watch the goats. Yup, the goats. Lately, the goats enlisted to eat non-native plants into oblivion have been one of the primary attractions, drawing onlookers at all times of day. A couple of hundred animals are at work on an infestation of ivy and vinca off North Park Drive, just east of the One-Mile. Among the spectators Wednesday was Hannah Hampton on just her second trip to the park, in the care of grandma Sharon Desjardins.

— Enterprise-Record, July 20, 1975

Hotel Oaks Is Erased From ‘Unfair’ Slate

The Hotel Oaks has finally been removed from the “unfair list” by the Butte County Central Labor Council.

At the request of Oroville Local 645 of the Bartenders and Culinary Workers Union, the hotel was originally placed on the “unfair list” February 21, 1950.

The action restoring the Oaks to the good graces of the union was requested by Wanda Barber, business representative of the Chico Bartenders and Culinary Workers Union, Local 866, in order to establish “logical grounds for future discussion with the management and directors of the Hotel Oaks.”

Chico Local 866 AFL was recently activated for the express purpose of promoting better employer relations in Chico’s catering industry.

According to the council, “this action of Local 866 is the first logical step in a series of moves designed to reopen the common ground upon which the union and management can stand with mutual respect.”

When the Oaks was placed on the “do not patronize” list, members of the council’s executive board said the hotel management had consistently refused to recognize any union or to enter into any discussions of labor problems with members of the council.

— Enterprise-Record, July 21, 1950

State Hears of Advantages Of Chico as KFWH Goes on Air at Initial Broadcasting

By Pete Steele

Chico, or so much of her talent as could be worked in within the time allotted, went on the air officially last night for the first time.

The corridors on the fourth floor of the First National Bank building, where the broadcasting station is located, were thronged during most of the evening with spectators and performers.

A receiving set was set up at one end of the main corridor so that the audience could hear what was being sent out through the air from the studio which they could not see nor enter during the performance owing to the extreme sensitiveness of the microphone.

The first number was a splendid piano selection by George Austell, one of Chico’s promising young pianists.

MEEKER MAKES BOOST ADDRESS

This was followed by an address by George T. Meeker, president of the chamber of commerce, who, a public speaker most of his life, last night addressed the largest audience of his career. Meeker told the world of the many advantages, both natural and civic, afforded those who are fortunate enough to claim the Sacramento valley for their home. He gave a review of past achievements in this section and prophesied what the section hoped to attain in the future.

Asked by the writer what sensation he experienced during his first broadcasting, Meeker replied:

“Well, I didn’t get stage fright exactly, but it is a funny sensation to stand there, talking to so many without seeing anyone. I am used to talking to people’s faces, and I sort of missed them back there in that little room. Once, I almost got off my line of thought when I became too interested in watching the machinery in front of me, but I soon got back, for I was talking about something I love — something I believe in — I can always talk about this wonderful valley of ours. How did it sound, Pete?”

Told that it sounded as natural as could be and came in clear and strong, Meeker replied:

“Good! The radio is a wonderful thing, and it can do a lot to put Chico on the map, if local talent will just come forward and make the most of this wonderful bit of publicity and it’s up to the good people of this section to see that she gets it.”

PIANO DUETS ARE ENJOYED

The next number was a group of piano duets, played by Lucille Cooper and George Austell. They were beautiful numbers, well executed.

Thomas W. Kelly, local merchant and prominently known among local civic organizations and luncheon clubs for his wit and originality, was next introduced by Announcer F.W. Morse, manager of the station. Kelly told of the many attractive features accruing from life in Chico during the summer months, with the great swimming pools lying limpid and alluring in the shade of the giant oaks of Bidwell park.

High tribute was paid by Kelly to General and Mrs. John Bidwell for their faith in Chico and the possibilities of the surrounding territory …

Miss Lucille Cooper, one of Chico’s youngest and most promising pianists, next entertained friends of the air with a number of artistic piano solos.

The “Hearts of Mine” quartet, consisting of Hapgood, Cook, I.C. Watts, W. Galbraith and R.P. Rawlins, sang one of Miss Cooper’s numbers with four selections. Manager Morse explained that the quartet work did not go out so well as some former numbers, owing to the fact that he could not place the boys far enough away from the microphone to get the desired effect, and he could not move the microphone without disrupting a large part of the evening’s program.

The Rose City orchestra played several informal numbers that were reported back as coming in in splendid volume and clarity and many requests were telephoned in for special numbers.

Harry Galaraneux sang several vocal accompaniments to popular airs played by the orchestra.

Joe Murphy sang a number of original compositions to which he played his own accompaniments.

During the later hours of the entertainment punch was served to the guests, through courtesy of the management of the Hooker Oaks.

— The Chico Enterprise, July 21, 1925

Butte County’s Favorite Resort

RICHARDSON SPRINGS IS HAVING A RUSH

THE HOTEL IS CROWDED

The Richardson Springs, Butte county’s favorite health resort, is rapidly growing in popularity, and the hotel and new sleeping house is all the time taxed to its utmost. An ENTERPRISE representative visited the Springs yesterday and it is found that the Richardson brothers are continually making preparations to accommodate the rapidly growing crowd. As rapidly as possible the rooms in the new sleeping house are being furnished and the rooms are always engaged before ready for occupation.

Yesterday and to-day, two wagons have been hauling out from Fetters & Williams’ store, large loads of bedroom furniture, and as quickly as possible the new house will be furnished throughout.

There are not only many Chico people at the Springs, but many from abroad, and an inquiry failed to find one of the guests there but had been greatly benefited by these waters.

It is the universal opinion that it will be but a short time when the proprietors of this place will be compelled to erect much more commodious quarters.

— Chico Enterprise Weekly, July 27, 1900

Interesting Work

Mr. P. Coffey is canvassing in this vicinity for a work entitled the “Life and Labors of David Livingstone, L.L.D., D.L.L., in South and Central Africa.” The work embraces the whole eventful life of Dr. Livingstone, is elegantly illustrated with scenes in that hitherto unknown country, and being a complete history of his adventures and explorations. The author is Rev. J. E. Chambliss. It makes a volume of over 800 pages, and is replete with interest to all. We commend Mr. Coffey to those who are interested in works of this character. Price, Extra English Cloth $3.50; Library Style, $4.00. Sold only by subscription.

— The Weekly Butte Record, July 25, 1875