The Orion — Fall 2013, Vol 71 issue 2 by The Orion

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On the River Glenn County Sheriff’s deputies watch swimmers as they begin the journey south on the Sacramento River from Irvine Finch Boating Access Area.

The Orion ∤ Photographs by Nicholas Carr

Labor Day sobers under police vigil Nicholas Carr

News Editor

Bringing an end to the chaotic revelry of years past, Butte and Glenn county law enforcement descended on the Sacramento River last weekend to enforce an alcohol ban targeted at the traditional Labor Day float. Last year’s float saw roughly 10,000 people on the river, said Sgt. Kirk Coon, a state park ranger. After a quiet Saturday with Butte County Sheriff ’s deputies reporting less than 100 float participants on the water, roughly 3,000 took to the river Sunday and filed through a series of checkpoints for a floating experience controlled by more than a dozen different law enforcement agencies. “We have had to turn a few away due to

between Chico and the landing had shown the level of intoxication,” said Sgt. Todd James of Glenn County Sheriff ’s depart- up. “Most of them have been coming in on ment. party and charter buses,” James said. Although most of the river’s guests Despite this, were acting peacethe south lane of ably, police made We have had to turn a few Highway 32 crossthree arrests on ing over the Sacrathe Glenn County away due to the level of mento River down riverbank by 2:30 intoxication. to the outskirts of p.m., James said. Hamilton City was In addition to the flanked by more arrests, which were Sgt. Todd James Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy than 100 trucks and for alcohol violacars. tions, police issued The Butte County several citations for Sheriff ’s office issmuggling liquor sued the following citations by 3 p.m.: one onto the river. The first participants began to show up drunk in public, two driving under the inaround 10 a.m. Sunday, he said. By 10:45 fluence, two minor in possession and one a.m. the first charter bus ferrying people possession of narcotics.

In addition, first responders assisted 50 people and rescued 33 float participants by that time. Denise Rist, a superintendent at the Parks and Recreation Department, joined with Glenn County Sheriff ’s deputies to screen the swimmers for contraband as they made their way down to the landing. “Most of them are voluntarily giving it up,” she said. Out on the river, floaters were closely observed by first responders from several different agencies, including California Fish and Wildlife and Parks and Recreation. From jet skis and patrol boats, they spent the day cruising through the ranks of tubes issuing citations and taking people back to shore. By 6 p.m., a majority of the day’s par-

» please see LAbor Day | A3

Limb fall probably caused by water load The Orion ∤ Photograph by Dan Riedel

Benjamin Mullin Nicholas Carr

Eulogy Cheu Lor speaks at Pa Houa’s memorial on Monday with the support of family members.

Orion Staff

Opportunity Program in an Aug. 28 university announcement. Staff Writer “She was a student with good grades Friends, family and neighbors of Chico who showed a lot of professional promise,” said Holly Nevarez, an associate professor State student and Pa Houa Lor gathered at for the department of health and commuBidwell Chapel Tuesday to celebrate her nity services. “It is extremely sad she was memory. struck down so suddenly while Pa Houa Lor, who grew up in she was so young.” Chico, died Aug. 27 after she was Pa Houa Lor is the hit by a falling branch near Lasfourth-youngest sibling of six sen Hall. She was 18. children. She lived at home Pa Houa Lor, a second-year while attending Chico State and health science major, was rehad a part-time job. membered with a eulogy delivThe parents expressed grief ered by her father in addition to after her death and stated in a a song sung by a close friend. university announcement that Pa Houa Lor was born to Cheu she had great things awaiting and Phia Lor in Oct. 1994 in Pa Houa Lor her. Thailand. She was a Chico High Oct. 1, 1994“She is a very kind and hardSchool graduate. Aug. 27, 2013 working person,” said Zoua Pa Houa Lor was a part of the Lor, a family member who is a Educational Opportunity Profreshman at Butte College. “She gram and the Upward Bound gets along with everybody and Program at Chico State. She she’ll always be there for you.” hoped to become a nurse. Her cousin, Lee Lor, described her as a “She was a very positive person — shy, very generous and helpful person. respectful, a really good student,” said Victoria Bass, coordinator of the Educational » please see LOR | A3

An arborist who examined the limb that in memoriam Bouquets of flowers lie against a fell from a tree and killed a student contree between Butte Hall and Lassen Hall, near cluded last week that the branch probably where a branch from a tree fell on the head fell because it became heavier after abof second-year health science major Pa Houa Lor. sorbing extra water for the summer. The university had two arborists examThe fatality has prompted the univerine the tree after Pa Houa Lor, an aspiring sity to review its tree maintenance policy, nurse and second-year health science mawhich currently consists of a periodic jor, was hit on the head Aug. 27 by a tree examination of campus trees, Wills said. branch that fell off of a red oak between The tree that the branch broke from was Butte Hall and Lassen Hall. University of- reviewed shortly before the incident and ficials announced at least 35 trees her death later that have been trimmed day. since the beginning After examinof last semester, he In general, we tend to ing the branches said. have lot of tree branches of each tree to enMature trees that fall during the summer in sure that no other are near buildings Chico. limbs were likely to or places where fall, both arborists people tend to conDaniel Efseaff certified that the gregate are flagged City of Chico park and natural tree was no longer by tree care experts resource manager a danger, said Joe for extra scrutiny, Wills, director of Wills said. public affairs and With an incident publications for the university. that has as much emotional impact as an The phenomena of becoming overloaded on-campus death, the university is taking with water, known as “summer limb drop” pains to ensure that it’s doing everything occurs when a branch becomes so overbur- it can to protect students, Wills said. dened that it can no longer support itself “It’s both an unusual occurrence and it’s and falls to the ground, said Daniel Ef- also very affecting to everyone involved,” seaff, the park and natural resource manhe said. ager for the city of Chico. “In general, we tend to have lot of Benjamin Mullin and Nicholas Carr can be reached at tree branches fall during the summer in editorinchief@theorion.com or @benmullin and @nikecarr on Twitter Chico,” Efseaff said.

Memorial honors student aspiring to become nurse Lindsay Pincus

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The Orion ∤ Photograph by Benjamin Mullin

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