Here are some newspaper stories published this week in years past.
25 Years Ago
Leaders issue plea, warning to St. Patrick’s Day revelers
Plea: take it easy; warning: if you don’t, you could be arrested — or worse
By Roger H. Aylworth, Staff Writer
St. Patrick Day’s revelers were given some advice and a promise Thursday: Drink responsibly, and if you don’t, you may find yourself in jail or worse.
A coalition of business, city, university, college and student leaders along with representatives of law enforcement turned out in an almost unprecedented show of community solidarity Thursday for a news conference on the City Council Chambers’ steps.
The core message was everybody is getting tired of alcohol-lubricated celebrations that get out of hand, and the culprit is drinking to excess in general and binge drinking in particular.
In recent years, while there has been no formal St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Chico, the event has been an unofficial opportunity for many young people, often Chico State University and Butte College students, to begin drinking green beer at many of the bars that open at dawn, and to continue drinking into drunken stupor.
Chico Mayor Steve Bertagna said the community is not asking for an end to St. Patrick’s Day drinking.
He called on the young people to celebrate if they want, but if the celebration includes drinking, then drink responsibly.
Chico Police Chief Jim Massie said his officers will be visible working on “prevention, intervention and, if necessary enforcement.”
While he said enforcement was a last choice, his department is prepared to push things harder than in the past. …
“It is not the alcohol. It is the irresponsible use of alcohol,” said the chief.
“It’s a national problem,” added Chico State President Manuel Esteban. …
— Chico Enterprise Record, Mar. 14, 1999
50 Years Ago
Brown Rips Reagan, President
By Len Steinberg, Enterprise-Record Staff Writer
OROVILLE — Edmund. G “Jerry” Brown Jr. touched all the bases yesterday during his campaign sweep through Butte County — Watergate, Gov. Ronald Reagan, oil, huns, the governor’s mansion, his record in office and the death penalty.
Brown, 35, secretary of state and son of former Gov. Edmund “Pat” Brown, spoke last night during a Democratic fundraiser dinner at the Stanford Avenue school here.
“I’m the only candidate for governor who ever lived in the old mansion,” quipped Brown when asked about his future home in Sacramento. “I don’t know if that qualifies me or not but I’ll make this promise … that if you elect me I’ll take my old room back.”
Brown said there is “nothing wrong” with the old governor’s mansion and chided Reagan for wanting #1.3 million to build a “Taj Mahal” with sauna bath, wine cellar and bombshelter.
“The state of California hasn’t been governed too well in the past eight years but it’s not because Reagan doesn’t have a sauna bath … it’s because he has the wrong kind of philosophy,” Brown said. …
The youthful candidate, one of 34 running for governor this year, spoke for more than half-an-hour to the 130 persons who showed up for the dinner, then fielded questions from the floor for another 30 minutes. …
— Chico Enterprise Record, Mar. 13, 1974
75 Years Ago
Planning Commission Explained
Rumors that the Butte County Planning Commission will force restrictions on the people of Paradise are not true, Dr. Lew Oliver, planning commissioner, stated in a talk before the Paradise Property Owners Association in Community Hall last Monday evening.
The Planning Commission is an advisory body, he emphasized, which merely makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors after a study of the facts. Before a plan is proposed, hearings will be held to determine whether the majority of the people is favorable or opposed to measures under consideration. The commission does not want t o go faster than public opinion dictates.
Planning, he said, is postulated on the theory that there is going to be growth. …
— Paradise Post, March 11, 1949
100 Years Ago
Machine Is Burned as Party Starts on Tourist Trip
A fire, which destroyed their automobile yesterday morning, cut short the plans laid by Mr. and Mrs. John Nordgrin, 967 Orient Street, who were packing the car in preparation for a move to the state of Washington.
The machine caught fire at the Shell Oil station, Seventh and Main streets, and efforts on the part of the fire department to extinguish the conflagration proved fruitless. The machine, loaded with camping necessities, was pushed out onto the street, as it was endangering the oil station. A short in the electrical connections ignited gasoline overflowing from the tank, caused by the float valve being out of order, started the blaze which soon enveloped the car.
125 Years Ago
An Attempt To Abolish A Bawdy House Near Magalia School House
The Inmates Sharp Enough to Disappear During the Time the Grand Jury Is in Session
The Citizens of Magalia, and especially the mothers of the families, are much wrought up over the fact that a house of ill fame is situated very near the school house. The sights and sounds that occur from the bawdy house tend to contaminate the children, and the people have made several efforts to have the nuisance abated. When the grand jury is in session the women of the house skip out to unknown quarters, but when the jury ends its session they resume their former habitation and mode of life.
We have learned that several families will request Judge Gray to take drastic steps in this matter for the prevention of contamination to the young, and this he will probably do unless the owners of the house move it or compel the women to seek other quarters. If the owners are sensible they will at once take measures to put a stop to the nuisance and force the inmates to seek a place remote from the school building. …
— Chico Weekly Enterprise, March 10, 1899
150 Years Ago
Railroad Lands
These lands are rapidly selling, and along the line between Gridley’s and Chico every foot of it is being appropriated. These lands are of the most productive character, and the new settlement will soon assume an importance in the way for trade. Let our merchants and tradesman look to it.
— The Northern Enterprise, March 13, 1874
