-Headline News

Feather River College President Kevin Trutna delivers his remarks to the Class of 2013 during the graduation ceremony May 24.  Trutna said 194 graduates received 231 degrees and certificates.

Laura Beaton

  “Don’t dwell on the faults,” advised faculty presenter Darla DeRuiter at Feather River College’s commencement ceremony May 24, the day after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake rattled Plumas County and beyond.

  DeRuiter presented two awards: Outstanding Alumnus to Elizabeth Powell for developing a local food movement, and a $1,000 Alice Foster Scholarship award to Michael Byrd, an environmental studies major.

  Superintendent/President Kevin Trutna presided over the first class to graduate since he was appointed permanently to the head job at Feather River College last January.

  In case of emergency, call 911.

  That phrase is etched in people’s minds at an early age. Callers take for granted that their call will be answered in seconds and that help will arrive in minutes.

A multitude of people gathers at The Brewing Lair on Saturday, June 1, for the inaugural Home Brew Competition. Sixteen contestants brought their prize homemade beer, looking to win the people’s choice award or the judges’ choice award. Photo by Carolyn Carter

  The Brewing Lair in Blairsden spent last Saturday, June 1, hosting aspiring brewers from all over in the inaugural Home Brew Celebration and Competition. Crowds of people filled the grassy yard at the brewery, glasses in hand, to try the home brewers’ beers.

  With live music, food and plenty of libations, The Brewing Lair put on quite a celebration in support of home brewers in the area.

On Thursday, May 16, 18 fire science students from Portola High School teamed up with Beckwourth Ranger District Fire Department for a day of mock firefighting. The students spent the year learning about fire behavior and their final challenge was to spend the day working in the field to earn their certification with the Forest Service. They cut a 4-foot line between the pretend fire and the rest of he forest with hand tools and chainsaws, all while wearing heavy fire protection gear.Photos submitted

Carolyn Carter

  From the younger days with Smokey Bear to the high school years of fire science, a child’s education is filled with opportunities to learn about fire safety techniques. Portola High School fire science teacher Brad Miller saw a chance to flame that knowledge and turn it into a career opportunity.

  On Thursday, May 16, 18 students from Miller’s class worked with Beckwourth Fire District in a wildland field day to get their Wildland Firefighting Certificate.

  The fire science class is a recently restored addition to the Portola High School curriculum as a part of the Storrie Fire agreement between the Forest Service and Plumas Unified School District. The agreement encourages the schools to further educate and collaborate with the students in the Storrie Fire area to help them better understand fire safety and environmental health.

  Orange cones and detour signs are familiar sights to Quincy residents and they will remain so for a few more months.

  The Quincy Community Services District is in the midst of a major sewer upgrade, installing a new mainline with new lateral connections through much of downtown.