2001: Bald eagles hit Del Oro football field

25 years ago Sept. 27, 2001 Thousands of dollars to help with the aftermath of the national tragedy on September 11 were pouring in at Raley's check stand collection boxes. Air Force Airman Geoffrey Kessenich, son of Kenneth and Julie Kessenich of Loomis, graduated from basic training at Lackland, AFB in San Antonio. Marine Corps Pfc. Kristopher Kitchens, a 2000 Del Oro High School graduate, completed Assault Amphibian Vehicle Repairman Course at Camp Pendleton. First place winners in the Cooking Contest at the Loomis Eggplant Festival were Main Dish: Kelli Sheehan (Benedict Eggplant Pizza), Side Dish: Kimberly DiCarlo (Bo's Eggplant Rollatini), Appetizer: Erika Flick (Garlic Eggplant Dip), Dessert: Paula Graziano (Eggplant Spice Cake). Nearly 700 students at Franklin Elementary School in Loomis held a special flag ceremony in observance of the National Day of Remembrance in memory and honor of those who lost their lives in the September 11 terrorist attack. Mitchell Pingree, a student in Mrs. Janel Catalano's 1st grade class at Placer Elementary School in Loomis, showed his artwork to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin, who was visiting the school. There were bald eagles all over the Del Oro football field. Started by linebackers Gabe Chandler and Eric Yocum as a show of unity, over half of the team were bald. Players swear they were not trying to emulate Coach Larry Wyatt whose head had not been acquainted with hair for some time. The Loomis District Band met each school day from 6:50 to 7:40 a.m. for practice. Loomis Fire District Chief Jim Struble announced his retirement. He had succeeded Ed Horton as chief in 1999. "After 25 years of responding to alarms and keeping a monitor available 24 hours a day, I am looking forward to retirement." 50 years ago Sept. 23, 1976 Janice Lou, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lou of Rocklin, entered her freshman year at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Marine Corporal Wesley Cole, a 1975 Del Oro graduate, was promoted to his current rank while serving at the Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona. Aki Hada and Kay Hamasaki were two of the chefs for the 12th annual food festival at the Placer Buddhist Church in Penryn. Marie Hayashida and Spring Yamamoto will be serving hot Japanese green tera in the Bamboo Inn dining area. Roseville would soon have its own roller skating rink. Constructed by Roller King, Inc., it will be located on Riverside Ave. A draft environmental impact report (EIR) for a proposed massive quarry operation in Clover Valley was filed. The project would remove over 1 million cubic yards of decomposed granite from the 8 acre site. A black polished granite stone now marking "Rattlesnake Dick's" grave site was specially quarried by Roy Ruhkala and the Union Granite Co. of Rocklin by the American River, a short distance from Rattlesnake Bar. It was at Rattlesnake Bar that Richard Barter, the son of an English Army Colonel, arrived from Canada at the age of 17. Reckless and wild, he turned outlaw at the age of 21 and for 6 years ravaged the settlements from San Francisco to Mount Shasta. "Rattlesnake Dick," as Barter became known as, had an ability to break out of jails, several times from the Auburn jail, once heavily ironed. 75 years ago February 1950 Funeral services were held for H. J. Parkinen, 78, a resident of Rocklin for the past 45 years. A native of Finland, he was a retired granite worker. With the help of organizers Mrs. Marguerite Nute and Mr. R.B. Ferguson, a Community Pot Luck Dinner would provide funds for the March of Dimes Polio drive. Gary Cooper starred in "Task Force" in Technicolor. The 20-30 Club in Roseville was selling chances on a 1950 Ford car as a fund raiser for the Rheumatic Fever Campaign drive. The car will be given away at the Tower Theater. Rheumatic fever outranked all other causes of death in children between 10 and 14 years of age. The Mothers Club of Rocklin was sponsoring a Whist Party in the Finnish Hall. Leading the event were Mary Bottomley, Minnie Allen, Clara Hernandez, Jennie Minkkinen, and Adie May Lord. Evangelist Joe Kemp, former professional magician, will be a guest at a rally at the Rocklin Pilgrim Church. He was known nationally as "The Gospel Magician." For Sale: 8 acres, 2 modern houses, and cow barn in Penryn - $8,500. Will consider truck as part payment. Placer County school superintendents agreed pupils in the upper elementary grades should have some vocational experience in choosing the type of work they would like to do. That should be supplemented by high school vocational classes. Still Standing Guard – oral histories: After WWII ended and the internment camps closed, Nobuya Nimura along with a friend from camp found work at a Buddhist Church in San Francisco. His family moved back to the same farm they had worked before the war. Nob said, "Fruit was big in those days. I was working for the Hayashida family." (Montserrat today). Eventually Nob learned the building trade and earned a contractor's license. About that time he met his future wife.