WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 | COLUSACOUNTYNEWS.COM
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2019
FLOOD
JENNIFER BLUE / PIONEER REVIEW
Many areas experienced localized flooding from the storm last week. A community member attempts to clear a storm drain at the intersection of Hillgate and 5th Street in Arbuckle. Flood waters caused the closure of the south Arbuckle-College City exit on Thursday, Feb. 14.
Atmospheric River closes Interstate 5
CHP Officer stabbed
SUSAN MEEKER susan@colusacountynews.net
LLOYD GREEN JR. lloyd@colusacountynews.net
Heavy rain on Thursday caused roads to flood and traffic to come to a standstill throughout most of Colusa County. Caltrans closed the part of Interstate 5 around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday between Maxwell Road and Highway 20 after an “atmospheric river” rolled though the area. Caltrans officials diverted traffic off the highway at Maxwell Road and into the city of Colusa for a short time. Traffic was eventually let through on the northbound side, but only one vehicle was allowed to cross at a time. Most travelers on the southbound side stood in traffic for hours, while many others took their chances on rural roads, only to get stranded in high water or mud, or forced back by road closure signs at almost every turn. Southbound travelers, including a number of semitrucks drivers, tried to divert off Interstate 5 at Delevan
Road, only to be stopped by the closure of County Road 99 to the south and Four Mile Road, located three miles east of I-5 and one mile east of the Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District canal. “Google said it was open,” a motorist told the Delevan resident who helped 14 semitrucks and more than 40 vehicles get turned around in several inches of water. Others drove west on Delevan Road trying to find passage on Sutton or McDermott road. Some motorists turned back at road closure signs; others pressed on. Around 3:45 PM, on Thursday, Caltrans reopened one lane of southbound Interstate 5 to slow traffic as the water began to recede, but traffic was backed for more than eight miles into Glenn County. By 4:15 PM, both lanes were open. Caltrans said about five inches of rain fell in the area. ■
SUSAN MEEKER / PIONEER REVIEW
Southbound Interstate 5 at Maxwell was closed for most of the day on Thursday after an atmospheric river caused roadways to flood.
Grand Island students serve elegance and tea JENNIFER BLUE jennifer@colusacountynews.net
Grand Island Elementary School students in Grimes continued their long tradition of a Valentine Tea party by inviting their families and people from the community to enjoy the arts. On Friday morning, boys greeted people as they came through the doors and offered them an arm in a gentlemanly gesture, escorting guests to their table. Girls, like 10-year-old Diana, came to the tables with a silver teapot, sugar bowl, creamer jar, and trays of baked goods. Each table was decorated with real flowers in a vase and balloon centerpiece surrounded by handmade placemats, in an effort to create a romantic atmosphere. Students sang, danced, and played recorders on stage. Vice Principal Blake Kitchen said the event was an opportunity for students to explore new skills. He also said that performing music benefits the students by building their self-confidence. Recorder player Jamison pointed out that they were able to play several songs after studying the instrument “for a month and a week,” which included learning to read sheet music. The afternoon was concluded with a presentation of Valentine mailboxes created by the students. Originally, the Tea party included a clothing fashion show
but in order to involve all the children and give them an opportunity to create, they switched to the mailbox idea. Kitchen said he was proud to be promoting the arts. “We used to be a STEM school but now we’re calling it STEAM; we’ve added the A in there for Arts,” Kitchen said. “We focus on the visual/performing arts; the kids get a lot of opportunities.” Academically, STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Grand Island students have had plenty of opportunities to showcase their artistic side. The Valentine Tea Party was one of many annual events the school hosts each year, including a Thanksgiving Feast and Christmas Program. The next event will be their Spring Dinner, which will be held the evening of April 27. In danger of closing, due to low enrollment, Grand Island Elementary invites new students, officials said. “Our doors are open, our numbers are low,” Kitchen added. Busses and vans are available for transportation and the district has an afterschool program at Grand Island. “We’d love to have anyone interested in coming, come on down and let’s take a tour of the school,” Kitchen said. Registration for Transitional Kindergarten begins Feb. 21. Contact the school office for more information. ■
JENNIFER BLUE / PIONEER REVIEW
Lizelle shows off her sparkly mailbox at the 2019 Grand Island Valentine’s Tea on Friday, Feb. 15. CALENDAR..............PG 2 CLASSIFIEDS..........PG 10 LEGAL NOTICES.....PG 10
A Williams Area CHP officer is recovering after being stabbed during a traffic stop Friday night. Just after 10:30 PM on Friday, Feb. 15, Phillip Martinson, a Williams Area CHP officer witnessed a vehicle driving northbound on Interstate 5 in excess of 100 miles per hour. Martinson made a traffic stop with the vehicle just south of Myers Rd. in Williams. “During the traffic stop, Martinson observed signs of impairment and requested the driver to exit her vehicle in order to perform field sobriety tests,” HAILE NEIL Colusa Co. Jail said Franco Castillo, a press representative for the Williams Area CHP. The driver is identified as Haile Neil, 25, of Martinez, CA. Once outside the vehicle, Castillo said that Neil became belligerent, and attempted to flee from Martinson, and a struggle ensued. “During the struggle, Neil pulled a concealed knife from her person and stabbed the officer in the back,” he said. A passing motorist witnessed the struggle and stopped and assisted the officer with placing Neil into custody. “Had no one stopped and assisted the officer, the outcome could had been dire,” Castillo said. The Good Samaritan was identified as 21-year-old Christian Melendrez, of Arbuckle, a driver for Selover’s Towing in Colusa County. Martinson sustained nonlife-threating injuries. He was treated and released at a trauma center in Chico. “Officer Martinson is home and recovering,” Castillo said. Neil faces several charges, including attempted murder and being under the influence of a controlled substance. The CHP is asking for any witnesses to the incident to contact the Williams Area CHP office at (530) 473-2821. ■
OPINIONS................PG 9 OBITUARIES............PG 4 SPORTS...................PG 6