It's Snow! I Mean Hail! I Mean Melted Hail!

Cold Arctic temperatures brought chilly weather recently to Chico. People had been planning for the cold weather coming earlier in the week. While our other photographer headed to Paradise, I stayed in Chico to see if the cold weather would bring the illusive snow flakes. It was funny to see Chicoans' reaction to what fell on the valley floor. I myself had a hard time knowing if what was falling was snow, or hail, or rain.

What looked like hail began collecting on the city streets and people were coming out with smiles on their faces. "It's snowing!" You would hear people saying with excitement. But was it? For Chico it sure felt like it. But for the town of Paradise, it was nothing like it. Paradise saw a huge snowfall come in damaging cars and taking out power. The schools in Paradise closed and people struggled to drive through the terrain.

While here in Chico, people laugh and smiled a the thought of snowfall. It was fun to try to hunt down the snowfall. While I was able to capture the news of the day I don't think I actually photographed any snow.

Callie McMurray, 19, sticks out her tongue to catch soft snow-like hail that fell as people walk by Chico State BMU on the CSUC campus Friday, February 25, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Trevor Thompson, 22, throws snowballs at passing cars made of the soft snow-like hail that fell on the ground near 15th St. and Salem Friday, February 25, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

The car streaks can be seen as the soft snow-like hail fell on the ground near 14th St. and Broadway Friday, February 25, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Snow fell in the Sierra foothills as cars drive along the Skyway as a seen along the Midway near Blossom Lane Friday, February 25, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Spring Weather Blooms Early

The warm weather hit early and hotter causing blossoms all over the city's trees to bloom. I headed out to find some color and beauty and it was pretty quick and easy. The scene was perfect, I just had to wait for somebody to come into the scene. A bicyclist rode through the trees and I snapped away. The blossoms framed him perfectly. Later I also headed to check out all the almond blossoms that have been turning the almond orchards into a winter wonderland. I got a high vantage point and snapped the blossoms of an orchard.

A bicyclist rides under Purple Leaf Plum trees that bloom early in the warmer weather along Vallombrosa Ave near Mangrove Ave Wednesday, February 23, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Almond blossoms bloom as seen from the Midway Friday, February 25, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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A Monk's Mission

Venerable Lama Losang Samten has visited Chico before. This modest monk is at it again creating a sand mandalas at the Chico State campus. He spends hours and days working on creating a sand artwork that is truly a beautiful sight. Then, after it is finished, he sweeps up the sand and it is over. Just like that, something he work to hard and long on is gone. That is like me taking my pictures, and then deleting them. As my friends know me, I don't delete anything. Not even the out of focus or wrongly exposed. I couldn't do it. I guess that's why I'm not a monk.

Venerable Lama Losang Samten works on his sand mandalas at Chico State in the Bell Memorial Union on the CSUC campus Friday, February 18, 2011 in Chico, Calif. Samten, a Tibetan monk, will begin work on the Mandala of Compassion on Feb. 14 and finish on March 5th.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Wrestling Tangles

Watching wrestling is always interesting. While most of the time it is awkward at times to see all the hugging in skin tight suits, there are the occasions where wrestlers will get tangled up. Most sports athletes need to stretch so they don't pull a muscle. Wrestlers need to stretch so they don't break their bones when tangled up. It is pretty amazing to see the human body bend in ways I really didn't think it should. For that, I give wrestling its credit.

Chico High's Mason Sauseda (top) wrestles against Enterprise High's isaiah Boles (bottom) in the 119lb match of their Eastern Athletic League wrestling championships Saturday, February 12, 2011 in Chico, Calif. Sauseda won the match.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Peregrine Point Disc Golf Officially Open

The Peregrine Point Disc Golf Course has now officially opened. A huge hot spot for outdoor enthusiasts has officially finished its renovations. The course offers still the same sweeping canyon views of Upper Bidwell Park. It now has a more defined starting area and cleaner trails and better pins. I am sure in the summer months I will be spending my time up the hill, hopefully still being able to keep a couple discs and not loosing them over the cliff.

Brian Brock, from Rocklin, throws a disc from the tee as the public came out to the official opening of the Peregrine Point Disc Golf Course in Upper Bidwell Park Saturday, February 12, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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I've Been Covering A Lot Of Basketball

It seems that every night I am covering a basketball game. Whether it is Chico, PV or some other local school I have been taking a lot of basketball action. Here is a batch from the past couple weeks.

Pleasant Valley High's #21 Darren Thomas (left) goes up for a shot against Las Plumas High's #32 Jordan Collins (right) in the second quarter of their boys basketball game at PVHS Varley Gym Wednesday, February 2, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Hamilton High's #4 Taylor Thomson (left) collides against Portola High's #12 Bailey Holt (right) in the second quarter of their girls basketball game Friday, February 4, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High girls gather together on the court against Shasta High before the first quarter of their girls basketball game at Chico High Thursday, February 24, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's #24 Sterling Smith (left) goes up for a shot against Pleasant Valley High's #31 Aaron Ellis (right) in the fourth quarter of their boys basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, February 11, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High fans distract a free throw against Red Bluff High's #24 Carlos Tapia (center) in the first quarter of their boys basketball game at CHS Friday, February 25, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's #24 Sterling Smith (center) takes a shot against Red Bluff High's #34 Jonah McInnis (left) and #33 Storm Lewis (right) in the first quarter of their boys basketball game at CHS Friday, February 25, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Chico's Egyptian Vigil

Egyptians have come together to cry out for a new government. And while the middle east can seem so far away, Egyptians in Chico came out to show their support for their people. A small group of Egyptians gathered in the city plaza. While looking for a unique angle to the vigil I managed to match the timing of my image with the flash from another photographer. I had originally been trying to hide the photographer behind the candle in the image, but got lucky when his flash snapped as my camera took the shot. It created a neat flare to the candle that added to the image.

Kimberly Durso (right) speaks to the crowd that gather in Downtown City Plaza for a candlelight vigil for the unrest in Egypt to show solidarity with Egyptian protesters Friday, February 4, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Chico Cheeseheads!

Who would have thought green and yellow would become the unofficial colors of Chico. Thanks to Aaron Rodgers, Greenbay Packers quarterback set to play in Superbowl XLV, his hometown has been placed on the map. No matter a win or loss, Rodgers will be strongly supported be the fans in Chico. The town has been draped in decorations of green and yellow. Over the last week I have been scouring the town for the prideful pictures and video. If Rodgers lead the Packers to a win, the colors might become the official colors of Chico.

Pleasant Valley High School Spanish teacher Lee-Ann Calhoon wears a cheese head in her class that celebrated almuni Aaron Rodgers Friday, February 4, 2011 in Chico, Calif. The school traded its blue and white school colors to wear green and gold in honor of Greenbay quarterback Aaron Rodgers who is set to play in Superbowl XLV.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Golden Valley Bank Marketing Officer Sean Sullivan (left) and President and CEO Mark Francis (right) take a look at an authentic Aaron Rodgers' signed jersey that was on display in their bank in celebration of the local hero Friday, February 4, 2011 in Chico, Calif. The bank and other business honored Greenbay quarterback Aaron Rodgers who is from Chico and is set to play in Superbowl XLV.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Mike Mathis, co-owner of The Horse Store with wife Donna Mathis, stands in front of their display horse Dupont who is decorated in Packer's gear Friday, February 4, 2011 in Chico, Calif. The business honored Greenbay quarterback Aaron Rodgers who is set to play in Superbowl XLV.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Pleasant Valley High School gathered in Varley Gym to celebrate almuni Aaron Rodgers Friday, February 4, 2011 in Chico, Calif. The school traded its blue and white school colors to wear green and gold in honor of Greenbay quarterback Aaron Rodgers who is set to play in Superbowl XLV.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Pleasant Valley High School Spanish teacher Lee-Ann Calhoon shows off her custom designed shoes as she wears a cheese head in her class that celebrated almuni Aaron Rodgers Friday, February 4, 2011 in Chico, Calif. The school traded its blue and white school colors to wear green and gold in honor of Greenbay quarterback Aaron Rodgers who is set to play in Superbowl XLV.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Pleasant Valley High School Principal John Shepard wears a "Go Packers" t-shirt as he looks toward the cheesehead to celebrated almuni Aaron Rodgers Friday, February 4, 2011 in Chico, Calif. The school traded its blue and white school colors to wear green and gold in honor of Greenbay quarterback Aaron Rodgers who is set to play in Superbowl XLV.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Butte College's President Diana Van Der Ploeg (left) gets the crowd to cheer as she honors Aaron Rodgers with students, faculty and staff for Packers/Butte College Pride Day Thursday, February 3, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Doug Cummings shows his tattoo for Greenbay as Butte College's President Diana Van Der Ploeg honors Aaron Rodgers with students, faculty and staff for Packers/Butte College Pride Day Thursday, February 3, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

PVHS Green and Gold Aaron Rodgers Day Video

Butte College-Packers Pride Day video

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Lucky To Be Alive

It always surprises me how people can survive such horrific accidents. The other day I responded to a vehicle rollover on the Midway which left the vehicle fully engulfed in fire. It was an accident that sounded as bad as it looked. Papers were all over the ground and the vehicle was completely burned up. I couldn't even imagine what the actually accident event would have looked like. I was sure there would be a major injury to the driver. But only minor injuries with scrapes, bruises and complaint of pain. I am amazed and glad that there aren't any serious injuries. From the accidents I get to see, they're lucky to be alive.

Cal Fire - Butte County volunteer firefighter Buzz Landon, hoses down a vehicle fire that broke out after a rollover along Midway near E. Nelson Rd.Thursday, February 3, 2011 in Chico, Calif. CHP reports a solo female driver, of Yuba City, was driving a Ford Bronco southbound on Midway when she veered off the road and overcorrected rolling the vehicle which burst into flames. She escaped with the help of witnesses with minor injuries, mostly cuts and scrapes with complaint of pain. Bowen was transported to Oroville Medical Center.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Paperwork lies scattered on the road from the vehicle involved in a rollover along Midway near E. Nelson Rd.Thursday, February 3, 2011 in Chico, Calif. CHP reports a solo female driver, of Yuba City, was driving a Ford Bronco southbound on Midway when she veered off the road and overcorrected rolling the vehicle which burst into flames. She escaped with the help of witnesses with minor injuries, mostly cuts and scrapes with complaint of pain. Bowen was transported to Oroville Medical Center.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Photographing in the Dark

When the power goes out at night everything is in the dark. It can be challenging to photograph something when you can't even see it. And what does the image turn out to be? A black picture? Power outages happen from time to time and you have to work in complete darkness. You can't see what is through your viewfinder. You really don't know where you are focusing or where your composition is. Then when you take the picture, you are trying to get a photo that has the lights off. Photography is all about capturing light, but when the power goes out it becomes about capturing the non-light... if that makes sense.

Homes along Bedford Dr. wait in the dark as PG&E works to restore power that left the east side of town in complete darkness Wednesday, February 2, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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A Superbowl Star

Chico has a Superbowl star! No, I'm not talking about Aaron Rodgers. I'm talking about the original Chico sports hero Jeff Stover. Stover played for the San Francisco 49ers in the 80's as a defensive end and earned two Superbowl rings. While Rodgers is getting his spotlight now, Stover was a hero of the time. Though Stover was from Corning, he came back to Chico to start Chico Sports Club and has been one of the most recognizable names in sports to come out of Chico. With the addition of Aaron Rodgers leading as Greenbay Packers quarterback set to play in Superbowl XLV, I was assigned to photograph Stover with his rings to get his insight to the game.

Jeff Stover, a Corning High School graduate and owner of Chico Sports Club, holds up two Superbowl rings he received after playing defensive end with the San Francisco 49ers football career in the 1980's Wednesday, February 2, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Jeff Stover's two Superbowl rings have his name and "Team of the 80's" inscriptions on the side Wednesday, February 2, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Jeff Stover, a Corning High School graduate and owner of Chico Sports Club, stands next to memorabilia earned from his San Francisco 49ers football career in the 1980's Wednesday, February 2, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Bird Watchers Flock to the Northstate

Every winter, hundreds of waterfowl fly into the Sacramento valley. Snow Geese, swans, ducks, and cranes crowd the wetlands and create a visually stunning sight. It is always exciting to head out to see where the birds are. It is interesting for me to go people watching as the people are bird watching.

I was lucky enough to spend some time shooting video of the annual Snow Goose Festival. I hung out with a group that was on a field trip at the Llano Seco viewing platform. It was great to have video to use the sounds of the birds to add to the experience.

A group of snow geese (white with black tip wings) and other waterfowl take flight as bird watchers look to the to see waterfowl at the Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento River NWR during the Snow Goose Festival Saturday, January 29, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bird watchers Maribeth Growdon, Karin Lilienbecker, and Suzanne Steel (left to right) look to the sky to see snow goose and other waterfowl at the Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento River NWR during the Snow Goose Festival Saturday, January 29, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bird watchers look to the sky to see snow goose and other waterfowl at the Llano Seco Unit of the Sacramento River NWR during the Snow Goose Festival Saturday, January 29, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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High's, Low's and Lower's

It's great to see the home team win. The celebration and excitement makes for great images. But sometimes the team can't always walk away with a win. The disappointment and frustration may be hard to watch, but it makes for great pictures. Both men and women's Chico State basketball teams were unable to pull a win in a recent game I covered.

Chico State's head coach Greg Clink (left) argues a call by referee Russell Burch (right) against Cal State Dominguez Hills in the second half of their men's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 28, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico State's head coach Greg Clink reacts to a call against Cal State Dominguez Hills in the second half of their men's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Friday, January 28, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico State's #41 Kristin Marquardt, #20 Taylor Lydon, #33 Pauline Ferrall, and #30 McKenzie Dalthorp (left to right) react to a missed point against Cal State Monterey Bay in the second half of their women's basketball game at CSUC Acker Gym Saturday, January 22, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Questions Surround Shooting

Chico is not the same safe town it used to be. Violent crimes have become an all to familiar event. A shooting in the south campus area has left police looking for answers. But it also leaves the community with questions. Where has the peaceful Chico gone. Some think that Chico has become more violent. It hasn't exceeded levels above the normal population growth. It is unfortunate that such violent incidents occur in the first place.

Blood is visible on a wall as Chico Police look around for additional evidence as they investigate the scene along W 4th. St. at Hazel St. Saturday, January 21, 2011 in Chico, Calif, where a shooting occurred nearby the night before.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police investigate the scene along W 4th. St. near Hazel St. Saturday, January 21, 2011 in Chico, Calif, where a shooting occurred nearby the night before.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bloody footprints are visible on the street corner as Chico Police look around for additional evidence as they investigate the scene along W 4th. St. at Hazel St. Saturday, January 21, 2011 in Chico, Calif, where a shooting occurred nearby the night before.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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