25 Years Ago
PV to get grant of $628,000 to ‘catch up’ in the cyber-age
By Michael Gardner, E-R Sacramento Bureau
Students in Chico Unified School District must pass a stringent computer skill test before they can graduate. But at Pleasant Valley High School, there is just about one computer available for every nine students and only a third of the classrooms are wired for Internet access.
“We’re behind and need to catch up,” conceded principal Michael Rupp.
That will change over the next few years, thanks to a $628,800 grant to PVHS announced this week by the state.
It’s “Absolutely the best news,” said Rupp.
The “Digital High School grant is part of a state program to propel campuses into cyberspace. Funds are set aside for computers and other technologies, wiring classrooms for the Internet and teacher training. …
The grant money is expected to assist in retiring many PC relics, expanding the number of computers available, and wiring classrooms for Internet access, he explained.
It could also fund new technologies, such as a local area network that allows messages to be sent throughout campus to minimize class disruptions.
Another possible addition is the state-of-the-art classroom presentation equipment like the “Liquid Crystal Display” projector that, when combined with a laptop or VCR, can project slides as well as video to replace the overhead projector.
“What I see happening is this school developing, with this community, a technology-based system for delivering instruction,” Rupp explained. …
Rupp is an ardent fan of all schools being more aggressive in embracing new technologies and require students to do the same.
“I believe strongly that everything a student does once they leave high school will be benefited by their knowledge of computer skills,” he said. “Not only will their job skills benefit, but their lives will be benefited.” …
Students must know basic computer terminology, demonstrate the ability to conduct research on the Internet, type 25 words per minute and be proficient in word processing, data base and spread sheet programs. …
PV’s enrollment is at an all-time high this fall, with 2,150 students. Rupp notes the school has just 250 computers — some of which are old 286 PCs. Seventy-five are in the library, where there is usually a wait during school hours for a seat at a terminal, he said.
As for the teachers, “some have them, some don’t.” …
— Enterprise-Record, Sept. 24, 1998
50 Years Ago
A Report: City status in Paradise future?
Is city status plausible for Paradise?
A highly responsible committee of Paradise men this week completed an exhaustive investigative study of the feasibility, or lack of it, for incorporation of the local community. The detailed report was released to the Paradise Post today.
Unusual as it may seem, the prospect of city stature and influence for Paradise is not as far-fetched and without a proposed increase in taxes as it would seem, according to the report.
The probing and exceptionally thorough study puts the community in a position of strong consideration for incorporation if the people desire it. Facts and figures … indicate strong support for the possibility of incorporation if residents want to control the future of the heavily populated ridge sector, its revenues and services.
Why did the committee delve so deeply into the topic of incorporation?
Roy McKernan, local attorney of McKernan, Lanam and Mace and chairman of the Paradise Local Government Study Committee, who with Earl Bailey, committee secretary, released the report, described it thusly:
“The committee was initially formed to analyze local government in the Paradise Area. I, personally, resigned from the Local Agency Formation Commission in order to devote time to development of a study in local government. As the study progressed, it was determined in order to obtain needed additional services such as expanded police protection and more adequate planning incorporation was the only alternative.
“In developing figures for accomplishing these ends, we determined more adequate service could be obtained without local real property taxes,” he concluded.
The 14-member committee met twice-monthly for the past year to yield the heavy batch of material included in the report.
How large are the revenues to be expected for such a new-born city?
Estimated revenues by funding source unveiled an astounding preliminary figure of $1,275,873 for the “City of Paradise” if it incorporates. These revenues sidestep any additional property tax but are yielded from the many license fees, taxes and subventions, sales and use taxes, etc. now being funneled into county funds and proportion county wide as supervisors see fit. …
According to the committee, under incorporation Paradise would be a general law city as provided under state law. Five councilmen will be elected at large. All others would be appointed by the council.
The new city limit would embrace the present boundaries of the Paradise Irrigation District looks extends over 19 miles squared in one 11,528 acres of land. …
The report is possibly the most extensive and factful ever put together by a local committee interested in the possibility of local government control.
— Paradise Post, Sept. 28, 1973
75 Years Ago
Gasoline Shortage Fails to Halt Motorists to Chico
Ominous reports from the oil refineries and waterfronts had little if no effect on Paradise motorists it was revealed this week by Robert (Bob) Rennard, local service station operator who recently conducted a traffic survey on the Neal road between Paradise and Chico.
The survey, in no way connected with the gasoline business, was voluntarily conducted by Renard as a portion of his duties as a director of the Paradise Chamber of Commerce.
Rennard revealed that an average of 171 cars per day drive down Neal road between the hours of 5:45 and 8:45 a.m. each morning. And each car has an average of less than two persons per car.
Tuesday 167 cars carrying 313 persons passed Rennard’s checking station. Wednesday, 177 cars bearing 338 passengers traveled down the road.
Rennard and the gasoline suppliers emphasize that gasoline supplies will become critical within the next few days and urged local residents, who work in Chico to double up in their transportation.
In view of the urgency of the situation, the Paradise Post will carry on the front page, free of charge, all requests for daily transportation to Chico and appeals from all drivers who wish to alternate cars in driving to work.
— Paradise Post, Sept. 23, 1948
100 Years Ago
Scouting Party Searches Grand Canyon for Survey Crew Led By Local Men
PEACH SPRINGS, Ariz, Sept. 24 (A.P. Leased Wire). Returning here after a survey of the Colorado river canyon near here in an attempt to locate the government surveyors charting the river, patrol scouts asserted that in the canyon the river was still on a rampage, shooting water 50 feet into the air as it struck boulders in its narrow bed.
The scouts cut short their search upon previous word from R. W. Birdseye of the United States, geological survey, instructing them not to venture too far into the canyon.
They found no trace of the surveyors.
PEACH SPRINGS, Ariz, Sept. 24 (A.P. Leased Wire). A a patrol penetrated the Grand Canyon at a .60 miles above Diamond Creek, Ariz., today, to scout the Colorado river for the United States geological survey party which is on a voyage charting the river. …
Two deputy sheriffs of Mojave County, Charles Imus, and Joe Daniels, veteran cowmen, who have traveled the canyon trails many times, left this morning with several Indians to search the country north of peach Springs along the river, in the belief that the surveyors may have camp there recently.
The river, as it was seen through the field glasses, seem to be receding and showing fewer signs of the raging current that prevailed for several days, but evidences were seen by the experienced trailers that indicated the river had been on a rampage through this section.
The surveying party is headed by R.W. Birdseye, former lieutenant-colonel in the United States army and nephew of D. M. Birdseye of Chico.
— The Chico Enterprise, Sept. 24, 1923
125 Years Ago
SHIPMENT OF CATTLE
About 525 Head Consigned to Miller & Lux
Yesterday a special train arrived here from Sacramento for the purpose of transporting to San Francisco the large herd of cattle brought down from Dixie Valley last week.
The cattle, 525 in number, were loaded on the cast last evening, and about 10:30 o’clock the train pulled out for San Francisco, the stock being consigned to Miller & Lux. …
This is the largest shipment of live stock made from this point for many months.
— The Chico Enterprise, Sept. 23, 1898
150 Years Ago
CONTRETEMPS
Old Skeezicks, who owns a fine ranch, orchard and vineyard near Oroville, took it into his head that his orchard was visited clandestinely, and sent his son into the orchard the other night with a double barrel shotgun to do sentry duty. Shortly afterwards he stole quietly out to see if the boy was at his post. He passed the boy without seeing him, and was wandering around among the trees, when the bang of a gun and stinging sensation in his broadest part convinced him that the young man was there. He stands up to eat his meals now.
— The Weekly Butte Record, Sept. 27, 1873
