December 5, 2003
Veterans Memorial update: There will be a design workshop
on Tuesday, December 16 from 6:00pm-7: 30pm at the Oroville Veterans’
Memorial Hall located at 2374 Montgomery Street, Oroville.
Butte County is conducting a study to determine the feasibility
of developing 3 parcels located adjacent to the existing Veterans’
Memorial Hall on Montgomery Street in downtown Oroville. The development
would include a Veterans’ Memorial Park and construction of additional
parking to serve both the existing Veterans’ Hall facility and the
downtown commercial area. The Design Workshop on December 16 is
the second of two public workshops. On November 20th
a public meeting was used to collect input from interested groups,
neighbors and County residents. The input was used to help develop
goals and objectives, and prioritize project elements. The following
items will be discussed at the December 16th meeting:
Information regarding land acquisition, goals, objectives and prioritized
project elements for the Veteran’s Memorial Park, additional parking,
project costs and phasing. Input from all interested persons will
be appreciated.
Oroville Mercury Register April 3rd, 1945
IN THE FIGHT
HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THREE YEARS
Cpl. Neithel G. Owens is visiting his father, J. C. Owens,
of Feather Falls. He has just returned to the United States after
serving 35 months, almost three years, with the U. S. Infantry as
a radio technician. He has a rating of Technician 5th
grade. Owens entered the army about four years ago and has seen
action in many parts of the pacific area. He has been in Australia
and New Guinea. Before entering the army he was employed by Feather
River Pine Mills.
GLENN BIGGS SPENDS A WEEK AT HOME
A-C Glenn Biggs has returned to his base at Selman Field,
Monroe, La., after spending a week at his home here. He is in his
final phase of training for navigator. Biggs is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. E.P. Biggs of Thermalito. He graduated from Marysville High
and attended Yuba College. Before joining the cadets, he was employed
as an aviation mechanic. Two of his brothers are also serving in
the armed forces of their country.
PAT RICHARDS CARRIES ON IN GERMANY
Pat Richards is a staff sergeant with the 104th
Infantry known as “The Timber Wolves.” They were the first to cross
the Roer River. They captured Cologne. Sgt. Richards went overseas
last August. He has been in combat at Antwerp in Belgium and went
through Holland into Germany. Before entering the army in January
of 1944, he operated the Chrysler agency and service station. He
was a member of the State Guard and held the rank of lieutenant.
Stu’s notes: I talked to Art Wells of Chico, author of a book
about Duwks (I will get the name of the book on Sunday and let you
know next week). I always see him December 7th at the
Gridley Fair Grounds. Art was a Marine during WWII and was quite
involved with the Army Duwks used in the invasion of many far off
Islands in the Pacific. We will meet there at the Memorial Flagpole
in honor of Pearl Harbor and those who lost their lives on that
day. Well over 2,000 men and women. The ceremony always starts at
9:55am, the time it was in California when the first bomb and bullets
fell out of the peaceful blue sky on that Sunday morning 62 years
ago. The public is invited. There will be about 20 or so Pearl Survivors
and their wives. Each year there are a few less of them. Although
a few new people come to the ceremony. All are now 80 years old
or more. A 17-year-old Gridley boy has the designation as being
the first to fall. His name is PFC Warren McCutcheon. We did a story
on him and his family, December 13, 2002. He died on the USS Maryland.