Sawmills and Scalps

The first sawmill in Del Norte County was established in 1853 in a gulch near the intersection of Third and C Streets in Crescent City. The machinery shipped from Pomona and it was F. E. Watson who built and operated it for R. F. Knox & Co. of San Francisco. Much of the lumber was …

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Cathy Dunlap, 1956-1976

The accident happened sometime in the early morning hours, jus’ north of the Trees Motel. The vehicle Cathy Dunlap was in drifted off of Highway 101 and slammed into the trees lining the road. Dad said Cathy, who had turned 20-years-old the month before, had died on impact. Whether that was true or he had jus’ told …

Return of the Skinny Man

“I think I jus’ saw a ghost,” Julio said as he walked into the newsroom. It caused me to flash back to a couple of weeks before, when Paul came to work at his regular time. I was putting the finishing touches on my top-of-hour newscast when he sat down in his usual spot. Once …

Inspired Writing: O. Henry

It was during my banishment from Margaret Keating School and while attending St. Joe’s that I learned about William Sydney Porter. He’s better known by nom de plume as O. Henry. Now I had heard of O. Henry and knew at least one of his short stories, that being, “The Gift of the Magi,” but …

Dave Barnett

Our falling out started shortly after I went to work at KNSS. He left the station about the same time and went to work at KROI. Dave Barnett and I hadn't gotten along for a number of years afterwards. Finally in 2000, I went and asked why was so pissed off at me. When I started at KNSS, I decided to …

Political Temper Tantrums and Jobs

Nevada's unemployment rate held steady at 13.4 percent in September as jobless figures fell in other states. The September figure is a drop from a year ago at 14.9 percent.     State employment department economists say 10,000 jobs were added, but most were seasonal and the net job gain was closer to 1,800.  Governor Brian …

Perfect Bite Mark

Mom was baking cookies and had jus’ set the metal baking sheet on the counter to cool before lifting them off. Her last words were, “Be careful, it’s hot.” Evidently, Deirdre wasn’t listening,  more focused on the cookies than what Mom told her and Marcy. Without hesitation, other than to check to be certain Mom wasn’t …

“Fair Today,” — But Not Really

Switch Hitter

We were visiting some friends at base housing, when Mom forbid me to go explore the caves below the field. Instead of listening to her -- I rushed off to the caves that were located below the base's ball field. When I finally came back up the hillside, I heard Mom hollering for me. I …

Justice Delayed

This is a follow up on a story written last January called, "Murder in the Moon."  The death penalty trial for two men accused of beating and strangling their Las Vegas escort service boss, then taking her body into the desert east of Las Vegas and burning it has been delayed. The murder trial for Keon Park …

Dead-Fall Trapped

One morning I decided I was going to try to do something I had never done before. I was going to make myself a dead-fall trap. With that in mind I found myself a good length of rope from our shed and I took it up into the woods with me. Next I found a …

Bass Ackwards

Kay purchased a new bedside alarm clock shortly after her old one stopped working. It has easy to see numbers with a nice back-light and a gentle-sounding buzz that won't jar a person from their sleep. She set the time and the alarm and tested the new clock out the day before she put it to use for …

If You’ve Seen One

It was conversation I wasn’t supposed to hear, but since the window was open I couldn’t help it. I was sitting at my desk, writing. This involved two pre-teen boys, one about ten the other perhaps 12. They were talking about a nine-year old girl they knew at school. The pair was walking along the …

Thunder Cut

We were simply to go to the state building downtown, drop off some water samples and return to the office. But Dave Barber and I didn’t listen to what we were told. Instead we decided to visit one of our favorite places – a local pawn shop. We had been there before and I had …

Rosa May

She was a prostitute during the late 19th century and very early 20th century who lived in Virginia City and Bodie, California. Legend says she was selflessly nursing sick miners during an epidemic and succumbed to the illness herself. Because of this, Rosa May has been referred to as the “hooker with a heart of …

Silver Tailings: Reclaiming the Cannon

Annually, the University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, square off for the rights to maintain a replica of the Frémont cannon, which was left by the expedition in a canyon back in 1844. It is arguably the most expensive cross-state trophy in the nation. During a television interview, UNR football …

The Shape of Things

My wife and I had been dating a few months when we were invited to Mom's for dinner. Since we lived in Arcata and Mom in Fortuna, we had to drive through the city to get there. As I pulled to a stop at the traffic light near the Humboldt County jail, I saw a young woman …

Sneek Peek

The ticket agent was busy with a couple at the window -- so I took the chance and stepped inside the doorway. I figured if I got caught, I'd jus' claim I was only going to use the restroom. I managed to walk straight through the lobby and into the theater. It took me a …

Nevada Refugee

We followed the dark red Volvo, with the two large dogs in the back, up to the entrance of the California Agriculture Station at the Nevada state line on 395. We stopped as the officer and driver of the Volvo spoke. He then waved them through and it was our turn. From an early age I had …

Morning of the Knife Butt

It was a couple of hours into my overnight shift when I decided check on vehicles in the parking lot. As I stepped out the door, I saw two teenage boys trying to get into the RV which is our mobile broadcast station. “What the hell are you doing?” I yelled. One of the kids …

Can You Hear Me Now?

As a radio-news broadcaster, having a good set of headphones is important to the job. That’s why I decided to buy myself a new pair as my older ones were nearly finished. However, for the second time in less than a year, I have lost a set of pricey headphones to the dogs. I say …

Shelly Sheppard

It's like a kick in the gut when I hear news someone I loved as a human and as a friend has passed away. This morning I learned my ageless friend, Shelly Sheppard has died. Shelly and I go back to 1990, when we first met over a hot mic at KROW Country 780. We were …

Elvish Riddle

Frankly, I never got into J.R.R. Tolkien’s work - to meaty for my primitive mind -- I prefer Louis L’amour and such. But my best friend in the Air Force found his work fascinating. In fact Dave Barber was so enthralled with “Lord of the Rings,” that he set himself down and eventually learned to …

South Lake Soldier Dies in Combat

Spanish Springs 2011 -- A soldier with ties to Northern Nevada has been killed in action.  U.S. Army Spc. Garrett Fant died September 26 in Afghanistan. He attended high school in South Lake Tahoe where his mother still lives.  Fant intended to return to the area to teach at the high school. He died due to …