Briefly
Cherokee mine: Got water?
The Butte County Water Commission has agreed to sell 161 acre-feet of water to a controversial sand mine proposed for the historic village of Cherokee, but the plan still has a way to go before the water starts flowing.
Advanced Mineral Technology wants to re-open a sand mine in Cherokee—much to the consternation of the residents there—but needs a considerable amount of water before it can start working. It proposed to buy 161 acre-feet of water (the average family uses one acre-foot of water in a year) from the county this week, a plan that the Water Commission agreed to at a meeting June 5. The mine plans to pump the water from the bottom of Lake Oroville, said Water Commissioner Ed Craddock.
The price of the water hasn’t yet been negotiated, and the plan still has to be approved by the Board of Supervisors before it can be finalized.
‘Centerfolds’ breathes new life into First Amendment Club
The new owners of the old First Amendment Club are hoping that a name change and a major remodeling will change their beleaguered club’s image and clientele.
The club, which was the focus of a months-long investigation and subsequent bust for alleged drug dealing and prostitution, re-opened two weeks ago under the name Centerfolds. It advertised that it’s cutting back its hours for a major remodeling and will host a busty featured entertainer—named Lovette Live—later this month.
According to George Mull, who sold his majority share of the club to a Sacramento strip club chain called Gold Club Centerfolds, it’s all an attempt to change the club’s image. The remodel, Mull said, will include a re-vamp of the VIP room (where the alleged prostitution took place) “to make it more open for people.”
“We’re looking to attract better dancers and get a higher caliber of client out there,” Mull said. “It’s going to be a lot better when we’re done.”
Until then, the club is open only Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Suicide victim identified
The 76-year-old woman who died June 1 when she was hit by a speeding train was identified as Dorothy Wellsfry, of Chico.
The Sheriff’s Department reported that Wellsfry, who was said to suffer from a painful medical condition, was “jumping back and forth” in front of the train at about 4:45 a.m. June 1. As it approached her, she raised and spread her arms. She was killed instantly, said Sgt. Andy Duch.
Wellsfry is the most recent fatality on Chico’s train tracks. Joshua Perez, a 21-year-old college student, died last month when he was hit by a train while riding his bike. His blood alcohol content was found to be well over the legal driving limit.
