WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2019
COLUSA COUNTY'S LOCALLY OWNED NEWSPAPER | COLUSACOUNTYNEWS.COM
Williams to make sewer plant improvements SUSAN MEEKER susan@colusacountynews.net
The Williams City Council will install a new blower at the wastewater treatment plant to eliminate the ammonia levels that got the city in hot water with the Regional Water Quality Control Board last September. The City Council in March voted 5-0 to contract with Central Sierra Electronic for the blower, which will cost $41,325. City Manager Frank Kennedy said the state is allowing the city to apply the cost of the blower against their fine if they make improvements that keep ammonia levels from rising and spiking. “The total fine was $54,000,” Kennedy said. Central Sierra Electronic was the contractor that installed the original set of blowers at the plant. Blowers provide aeration in activated sludge in order to promote aerobic digestion. Because the equipment was proprietary in nature, the City Council was able to sidestep competitive bidding. Kennedy said if competitive bids were sought, the city would have to obtain plans and specifications from the company that designed the plant, which would have added about $17,000 to the cost of the project. The city will still have to spend an additional $12,675 to reach the equivalent of the Water Quality Control Board’s fine, but that on-site engineer costs needed for the project would go toward the $54,000. ■
Get your calisthenics on, Colusa JENNIFER BLUE jennifer@colusacountynews.net
Bathingsuit weather is just around the corner, and for those in Colusa looking to get a leg up on their fitness, there are options to not only get moving, but support a variety of causes as well. Currently, Colusa Family Resource Center hosts Girls on the Run which meets up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The program is geared toward raising self-confidence in young girls, and is limited to 18 people. There is a waitlist for the program, however, the group will be meeting up with other girls in the program on May 11 for a 5k in Yuba City at 9 AM and “Running Buddies” can join them. Arbuckle Elementary school will be doing a Walk-a-Thon at their track on Friday, April 12. Money raised will go to school programs, bus transportation, assemblies, and so forth. Those interested in donating or having questions are invited to call the school at (530) 476-2522.
See FUN RUN | PG 2 TODAY Thurs.
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APRIL 10, 2019 VOLUME: 12 ■ ISSUE: 15 ■ NO 412
ISSN: 2161-7139 • COPYRIGHT 2019 OBITuARIES .......... PG 4 CAlENDAR ............ PG 2 ClASSIfIEDS ...... PG 10
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Teenagers take active role towards careers
Upcoming
Easter Activities SAT., APRIL 13
■ Arbuckle Community Easter Egg Hunt 11 AM
united Methodist Church, 9th St., Arbuckle
Arbuckle United Methodist Church is hosting a Community Easter Egg Hunt, bring your Easter Basket! All children are welcome! Event held rain or shine!
■ Maxwell Pancake Breakfast & Egg Hunt 7 AM - 10:30 AM
Maxwell Elementary School 146 North Street, Maxwell
JENNIfER BluE / PIONEER REVIEW
feather River College recruiter Scott Koeller talks to students at Williams High School Career fair on 4/4/19. JENNIFER BLUE jennifer@colusacountynews.net
The second annual career fair at Williams High School was reported to be a success. On Thursday, at the end of the school day, students stuck around to probe their options as future members of the workforce.
Success was measured by the number of those in attendance. About 100 students came through the gym doors, staying to chat with 34 of the representatives presenting potential careers. Teachers with the AVID program spearheaded both years of this career fair. AVID is a college readiness program
designed to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in college. Teacher Jonathan Mireles was in the AVID program when he was in school, so he is very familiar with the goals.
The Maxwell Parks and Recreation Auxiliary Committee will host their annual Pancake Breakfast, followed by the Easter Egg Hunt at Maxwell Elementary School, The pancake breakfast consists of pancakes, sausage, eggs, coffee or juice for a $10 adult; $5 children. Breakfast will be served from 7-10-30 AM in the multipurpose room. The free Community Easter Egg Hunt for children will be held at 11 AM.
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Family Fair, Color Run to be held Saturday SUSAN MEEKER Susan@colusacountynews.net
The Month of the Young Child provides an opportunity for the community to acknowledge the value of supporting children and families, and to show appreciation for those who promote children’s strengths through nurturing relationships. Month of the Child activities include the annual Colusa County Family Fair, sponsored by Colusa County Office of Education Children’s Services, Local Child Care Planning Council, and Colusa Family Resource Center, and the Color Colusa Blue 3K Run, sponored by Colusa County Advocates for Parents and Children (CAPC) on Saturday. “The Family Fair is our way of honoring young children and all those who make a difference in children’s lives within our community,” said Teia Miller, Local Child Care Planning coordinator. Miller said the organization understands the importance of shaping chil-
dren’s learning and development in the earliest years, and that Colusa County recognizes that a strong foundation promotes later school success. The free Family Fair will be held to celebrate the children in the community from 10 AM to 1 PM on April 13, at Egling Middle School, in Colusa, and will include a petting zoo, face painting, magic show, food, sensory activities, art projects, and games. April is also Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is dedicated to raising awareness of child abuse by facilitating various prevention and awareness activities in April and throughout the year. “As a nationally-recognized awareness month, April serves as a platform to spread awareness that child abuse does exist and that it is preventable,” said Carissa Bowers, CAPC program manger. In coordination with the Family Fair, CAPC will host the annual Color Colusa Blue 3K Run on Saturday across the street from Egling Middle School, at Will
S. Green Park. There will be two start times to the Color Run this year. The first run will begin at 9 AM, with registration starting at 8:30 AM. The second run will begin at 1 PM, with registration starting at 12:30 PM. The route begins and ends at the park, after runners and walkers make a loop through town through a number of “color” stations. Registration is $20 for ages 12 and up, and includes a barbecue lunch. Ahead of Saturday’s event, the Colusa and Williams City Councils and Colusa County Board of Supervisors proclaimed April 2019 as Child Abuse Prevention Month locally. “The observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month provides an excellent opportunity for all citizens to reflect on this tragic crime, while rededicating themselves to taking an active role in child abuse prevention activities in their community,” said Kent Boes, Board of Supervisors chairman. ■
Saso returns to Williams Police Department SUSAN MEEKER susan@colusacountynews.net
Jim Saso is back at the helm of the Williams Police Department. Saso was sworn in as Williams Chief of Police on Monday, replacing former Chief Ed Anderson, who resigned March 18 while under an internal investigation. Saso has been serving as Colusa County Assistant Sheriff to Sheriff Joe Garofalo since 2015, but current and former Williams officials said the city needed him more. “We are so glad to have him back,” said former Mayor Pat Ash, who was on the City Council when Saso served as both police chief and acting city manager. “We need him here.” Saso stated his law enforcement career with with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, and graduated from the Sacramento Regional Public Safety Training Center in 1991. He served as a deputy sheriff with Colusa County Sheriff’s Office from 1994 to 2001, and worked a number of special assignments including narcotics, school resources officer, impact weapons instructor, and served as a member of the Special Operations and Response Team. Saso was first hired to the
SuSAN MEEKER / PIONEER REVIEW
Williams Police Chief Jim Saso retakes his oath of office on Monday, returning him to the helm of the Police Department. Williams Police Department in 2001, was promoted to lieutenant in 2003, and was first sworn in as the city’s top cop in 2006, serving under serveral mayors, including John Troghton, who remains on the City Council. Saso said he was looking forward to serving under Mayor Alfred Sellers, who was among many who attended the ceremony to watch Saso retake his oath of office. “I am humbled and honored to be back here to support this city, the city council and city
staff,” Saso said. Following the ceremony, Saso recognized the dedication of the officers and staff of the Williams Police Department, who for the past three months have worked tirelessly and sacrificed time off with the families to keep police services going smoothly while an internal investigation was underway that had the police chief, sergeant, K-9 officer, and service technitian off on administrative leave. “They worked to fulfill the mission of this city and police
department to protect the citizens, and that’s the kind of group I want to work for,” Saso said. Although Saso acknowleged that his plans are to retire in a few years, he said he could better serve law enforcement and the citizens of Williams by restoring stability to the police department, which has had two police chiefs and one interim chief since 2015. “With small agencies, you can’t keep going through police chiefs,” said Saso, who served at the helm nearly 10 years before departing. “It’s difficult for the city; it’s difficult for the agency; and it’s difficult for the culture of the organization because every chief has differnet goals.” Saso said leaving the Sheriff’s Office was a difficult decision, but he felt it was more important, toward the end of his law enforcement career, to leave a department that functions well under current leadership and staff to resume command of the Williams Police Department, where he can help guide a smooth transition toward the future. “If we can develop good people and prepare for the future, then the city and the department will be in good shape,” Saso said. “It’s good to be back.” ■