Couple reunited with cat 26 days after Alaska home collapsed into river

A pair of Alaska teachers needed good news after they lost nearly all their possessions when their house collapsed into a river swollen by a glacial outburst flood and their cat went missing. Elizabeth Wilkins was holding onto hope that if any animal would survive the house falling into the Mendenhall River on Aug. 5, it would be Leo, the couple’s resilient big-eyed, black-and-white cat who shows no fear of bears. “I knew that he’s pretty smart, and so I felt pretty confident that he would escape and be OK somewhere,” she said. That faith paid off 26 days after the flood when Tonya Mead posted a photo of Leo to the Juneau Community Collective Facebook page. Wilkins immediately knew it was Leo, the “COVID kitten” they rescued in 2020. She rushed to meet Mead. Delta flight returns to Atlanta after alleged diarrhea incident “I just started walking down the street calling for him, and he just ran out and was like, ‘Oh hey, here I am, you know, like, where have you been?’” she said. The river flooding was caused by a major release of

Inside the Outpost:: Dibble Creek hosts booming grand opening

RED BLUFF – The barbecue was fired up and the whiskey a flowin’ as hundreds of people filed into a new restaurant and lounge over Labor Day weekend. Dibble Creek Outpost officially opened during the holiday weekend featuring both casual and fine dining, live music and friendly staff. The property is landscaped with drought-resistant plants, some shaped like huge pineapples. A bar made from a silo serves outdoor diners and patrons in the immense patio seating space. Floor-to-ceiling murals fill the inside walls. A convenience store sits at the entrance. Another feature that truly makes the place one-of-a-kind is the “only Sunoco gas station on the West Coast,” according to owner Bruce Geveden. The newest addition to Red Bluff’s culinary cuisine along the rural stretch of Highway 36 was welcomed by customers of all ages. Patrick Smith, who lives close by, said he “really enjoys the music and the atmosphere. It’s very comfortable and welcoming,” he said. Approximately 30 people are employed at Dibble Creek Outpost, according to Bar Manager Alicia Hughes. She said “This area has a small-town-feel. Everybody knows everybody.” She said she

Take a good look at the state theater | William Tells

In last week’s column I did a little bragging about the historic State Theatre.  I wrote that you and I are part of a community that now not only owns the building lock, stock and urinal, but also has mostly restored it to its original condition when it was first opened in 1946. The next time you are downtown after dusk, take a moment to enjoy the beauty of the State Theatre blade and marquee proudly announcing that the old gal is back, and that she is here to stay. The next time you attend a concert at the theatre, take a minute to enjoy your walk by the Marvin E. Locke Green Room adjacent to the theatre.  Take a quick look at the alley and patio, as well.  Take a minute to realize that the best-looking alley and patio in town are a result of local businessmen donating 100% of their time and money to get-er-done. Before you enter the theatre, take a look at the Forward Family Box Office. Take a second to look at the historic poster windows announcing coming attractions.  Take

TCSO to get $1.5 million funding boost, but Kain says it’s not enough

RED BLUFF — The Tehama County Board of Supervisors received a balanced budget recommendation Tuesday morning from the budget Ad Hoc Committee, which included budget allocation across all departments that did not please everyone. Tehama County Administrative Officer Gabriel Hydrick said the General Fund is about $4 million short with about $6.5 million in Fund Balance Carryover. It’s that Fund Balance Carryover that helps the county to balance the budget, Hydrick said, Among the department heads who didn’t like the proposed budget, which will come back to the supervisors on Sept. 19, was Sheriff Dave Kain. Kain argued against the proposed budget, arguing that it didn’t meet the department’s needs. as he requested nearly $25.7 million in total for the department. Like every other department head in the county, he got a request from the budget ad hoc committee to start cutting even more from their proposed budgets. However, many departments claimed that they had only one week to respond to the request from the committee. As it turned out, the budget proposed to the supervisors Tuesday morning provides Kain’s department, Including the jail, the

Margarita Beef with Orange Salsa | Cattlewomen’s Corner

Margarita Beef with Orange Salsa, was John W. Hund’s entry in the 1992 National Beef Cook-Off in Sacramento, CA. 1- 1 / 2 pound well-trimmed boneless beef top round steak, cut 1 inch thick 2 / 3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed 1 / 2 cup tequila 1 / 3 cup fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger 2 medium cloves garlic, crushed 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ried oregano leaves, crushed 1 / 4 teaspoon ground red pepper Cilantro sprigs Lime wedges Orange  Salsa 1. Combine orange juice concentrate, tequila, lime juice, oil, ginger, garlic, salt, oregano and pepper.  Place steak in plastic bag;  add marinade, turning to coat.   Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator 4 hours or overnight, as desired. Prepare  Orange Salsa: 2 oranges, peeled and cut into 1 / 2 inch pieces 1 small red or  white onion, chopped 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped 1 / 4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 / 4 teaspoon salt 1 / 4 teaspoon dried

A smaller home is a happy home | Purcell

Houses are getting smaller again — which is going to make many Americans happier. Americans faced with high mortgage rates and a shortage of affordable homes for sale are opting for new, smaller homes that do not have dining rooms, living rooms, spare bedrooms and even bathtubs, reports the Wall Street Journal. Builders are building smaller homes partly to give cost-constrained buyers a more affordable option. But it’s mostly because it’s the only way home builders can turn a reasonable profit, thanks to the high cost of construction materials, which have skyrocketed in the past few years. Home sizes sure have soared since I was a kid in the 1970s. According to the U.S. Census, in 1972 the average home was 1,660 square feet. In the 1990s, with the era of the “McMansion” in full swing, no small number of homes exceeded 4,000 square feet — homes so unnecessarily big you need to hail an Uber to get from the living room to the kitchen. The American home continued to grow until it peaked in 2015 at an average of 2,467 square feet, but now