There’s a new arrival in our midst. Please welcome Chico True Value Hardware.
It will be easy to find if you know where the old Orchard Supply Hardware is. It’s right across the street, at 220 W. East Ave.
It’s not your big box home improvement store, but more like a corner-convenient place to run to get items. There’s hardware, equipment, tools, paint, gardening stuff and other essentials. But it’s not all small merchandise. Expect to see barbecues and lawn mowers when that time comes around.
Co-owner Gary Powers of Chico jumped on the opportunity after hearing that OSH was closing. Powers also has his pool service and supply business there too, Holiday Pools.
It’s a plane
It’s a plane. It’s a bird. It’s Sup…. Oh yeah, it was a plane.
Many of you heard it before you saw it. A huge rumble inside our building mid-morning Thursday sent me heading out the newsroom backdoor, with an eye to the sky.
What seemed like miles and miles up, a gray, military-looking plane was passing by. Circling again and again and again. OK, so what’s up?
I shot off an email to one of my aviation sources, Brian Baldridge of Air Spray at the Chico Municipal Airport. Air Spray converts commercial aircraft into aerial firefighters.
Baldridge said he saw it too, telling me he thinks it was a military KC-10 used for inflight refueling.
“It was orbiting and possibly a gas station, or backup gas station for Air Force One returning from Hanoi,” was what he shared. He noted that the two aircraft that act as Air Force One are 747s and are capable of aerial refueling. He also noted that other planes fly with the President, including C-17s and C-5s “that carry the armored cars, communication trucks, security personnel, etc. Depending on the aircraft and modification level, they may have some aerial re-fueling receiving capability too.”
Adding to the scenario, Airport Manager Sherry Miller told me that the plane was not communicating with the Chico tower, but Oakland’s tower.
OK, makes sense. I’m so glad to have great contacts around here.
Mach 1
Speaking of flying, retired Brigadier General Chuck Yeager recently turned 96 years old. Happy birthday, Mr. Yeager.
Did you know there’s a north state connection to — at his time — the fastest man in the world?
There’s a Chuck Yeager Way near the Oroville airport.
After just reading his autobiography, I know that his wife, Glennis nee Dickhouse, came from Oroville, and that the couple visited here frequently. Edward and Phyllis Dickhouse, her parents, lived on Bridge Street.
Yeager also enjoyed hunting in the area.
As a test pilot back in 1947, he was the first pilot to break the sound barrier, flying at Mach 1.
New to Chico
Chico Mall had good news last week about new faces we’ll see this month.
Look for SunStore Solar Storage, along with Backyard Solutions.
SunStore is a commercial, agricultural and residential solar installation company, which also sells batteries. It’s a second location for the company, with its first being in Yuba City.
It’s pretty easy to guess Backyard Solutions’ expertise, but the store will offer backyard decor, hot tubs, art, furniture and more, according to the mall. It was previously in Paradise.
The mall also announced two others relocating from Paradise, Americana Brazilian Jiu Jitsu martial arts, and Dove’s Gypsy Boutique. The latter specializes in women’s clothing, jewelry, accessories and home decor. Expect these in the spring.
By the way, if you heard that some J.C. Penney stores will be closing, Chico Mall’s Lynette Myers said the local store is just fine.
Look for the California Carnival Co. returning for a visit March 7-17 at the mall as well.