See Mountain Echo on the web at MountainEcho.com Published every Tuesday Vol. 43, No 37 September 17, 2019

The leader in local news and sports coverage throughout the Intermountain Area

See sports, page 5, 7 and 8.

BURNEY — “It was an emotional day at the Admin-istrative Office of the Burney Fire Protection District last Monday.” Secretary Cindy Hall said. On the eve of the County Supervisors meeting to approve an advance of this year’s tax revenue, the Post Office delivered a surprise ca-shier’s check in the amount of $75,000 from an anonymous donor. The check came in a

single white envelope with a type written return address that said: “We appreciate all of you.”

Hall said she immediately called US Bank to determine the source of the funds and what they were supposed to be spent for. The bank represen-tative said that the donor did not put any conditions on the funds and did not want to be named.

At this, Hall said she strug-gled to control her emotions as the realization hit her of what someone had actually done.

When the news was shared with Chief Monte Keady, she says all he could do is stand there with his mouth open in amazement for several mo-ments.

“It is very humbling that someone within this commu-nity would go and do some-

thing like this.” Hall said. After a few minutes to gath-

er themselves, it was clear that this would solve a multitude of short term problems. which had forced the district to start proceedings to borrow against their future tax revenue.

“This donation, along with the recent cuts and deferred expenses already in place, will allow the Fire District Board of Directors, and the District

leadership a chance to focus solely on finding long-term funding solutions to providing fire and EMS service.” Chief Keady says.

“The Burney Fire Protec-tion District would like to thank the donor in person, but we respect their desire to remain anonymous. There-fore, consider this a heart-felt thank you from all of us.” Keady said.

Anonymous donor gives Fire Department $75,000

PASADENA- Valerie Lakey, from Mayers Memorial Hos-pital District, was recently a speaker at the California Hos-pital Association’s (CHA) Di-saster Planning for California Hospitals, “The New Norm, Adjusting Our Strategies.” The statewide conference at-tracted over 700 participants. Lakey has served on the con-ference committee for the last four years working to bring content and education geared toward rural facilities.

Lakey presented on the top-ic “The ABC’s of Rural Col-laboration.” Kenneth Luke, Emergency Preparedness Manager of Mercy in Redding was a co-presenter. The duo spoke about how their infor-mal collaboration has bene-fited each facility, large and small. Hospital facilities are required to belong to formal coalitions, which serve a nec-essary purpose. Often times these groups are tied up in the structure: agendas, time-lines, red tape and formalities. The presentation focused on a very informal “elementary” approach to collaboration. Networking and collabora-tion established through this process has allowed greater

access to resource shortfalls and extended training oppor-tunities. The work of the local Intermountain Preparedness Group (IPG) was also high-lighted.

Lakey is the Director of Public Relations and Legisla-tion at Mayers Memorial Hos-pital District. She also serves as the public information offi-cer and Emergency Prepared-ness Coordinator. She has completed a number of emer-gency management training programs, including the Ad-vanced Public Information Officer Training at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Alabama, The Framework for Healthcare Emergency Management, Health Sector Emergency Preparedness and is an active coordinator of the Intermountain Preparedness Group. Lakey has also com-pleted her Terrorism Liaison Officer (TLO) training as well as Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training. She has been involved in planning and facil-itating hospital-wide trainings and coordinated educational materials for staff. Lakey also serves on the CHA Statewide Disaster Planning Conference Committee.

SAN FRANCISCO—PG&E filed a joint Chapter 11 Plan of Re-organization (the “Plan”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court. spokesman for PG&E said. “This Plan is another step in a multi-step process as PG&E works to compensate wildfire victims and emerge from Chapter 11 while continuing to improve safety and operational performance for its customers. The Plan will be up-dated as developments require.”

“I am confident that we can, and will, provide better service to our customers and communities, and our Plan of Reorganization is another step in this process.” said Bill Johnson, PG&E Corpo-ration’s Chief Executive Officer and President

Photos by Celena BennettDriver takes out corner of the Tribal Housing office Sunday morning.

Woman drives over curb and smashes into the corner of a Burney office

Members of Samuel Bur-ney American Legion Post 441 and VFW Post 5689 are in the final stages of planning for this year’s recognition of POW/MIA Day to be held Sat-urday, September 21st at 5:00 PM at the Burney Veterans Memorial Hall. According to Legion Commander Dennis Lopez, the event will recog-nize POW/MIAs from the Viet Nam era, with the reading of

names of missing POW/MIAs from California.

Don Smith, a well-known local veteran and member of American Legion Post 369, will be the guest speaker. The Burney Veterans Hon-or Guard will present colors, George Mathews will play taps, and Bob Boyce will be Master of Ceremonies. The event will include free ham-burgers and hotdogs.

BURNEY —A woman whose identity hadn’t been re-leased as of Sunday afternoon ran the curb and crashed into the Pit River Tribal Housing Department, at the corner of Michigan and Highway 299 (Main Street) in Burney Sun-day morning. She was air lift-ed to a Redding trauma center with unknown injuries..

Highway Patrol, deputies, firefighters and paramedics, were dispatched to the scene shortly after 6:00 a.m.

Witnesses reportedly said the Ford Explorer ran through a section of fence and ran into the corner of the building, do-ing major damage to the inte-rior and exterior of what had once been a shoe repair store and the offices of former Bur-ney attorney and superior court judge Larry Frumes.

The patients condition had not been released Sunday af-ternoon.

Trevor Montgomery of Shasta County News Source,

an internet blog, reports that “Based on evidence at the scene, officials who investigat-ed the cause of the crash de-termined the driver, who has not yet been publicly identi-fied, was traveling westbound on Main St. when the accident happened. According to offi-cials and witnesses, nobody was inside the building when the accident happened.

A CHP officer said the ac-cident is still under investiga-tion.

Photos by Celena BennettThe crash seriously damaged integrity of the office’s corner.

Veteran’s and friends to hon-or POW/MIA victims at the reading of their names

Mayer’s co-disaster chair Val Lakey speaks at state disaster planning meeting

PG&E files plan with court