The return of Vang Pao

The statue of Gen. Vang Pao that once stood outside Chico City Council chambers will return during an unveiling ceremony this Saturday (Sept. 12), according to a city press release.

The statue of the man, a hero among the Hmong people, was originally installed in 2012 after the Butte County Hmong Association raised $40,000 for construction and installation and lobbied for its prominent placement. Sometime during the first weekend of October last year, while a Hmong New Year celebration was held at Bidwell Junior High, the statue was badly vandalized.

Now that it's repaired, the Hmong community will celebrate the statue's reinstallation from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Main Street will be closed between Fourth and Fifth streets from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.