Soaking Up the Sun at One Mile

It is amazing how just a week ago we were dealing with heavy rain, strong flooding and damaging wind. And now, we are hit with 80 degree temperatures and people flocking to soak up some vitamin C. I went to One Mile yet again, but saw a very different place. People were out enjoying the weather, not hiding from it. I spent my time creating a video of what people were doing down at the popular hot spot.

People take advantage of soaking up some sun at One Mile Recreation Area in Lower Bidwell Park Friday, April 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A group of women dip their feet into Sycamore Pool at One Mile Recreation Area in Lower Bidwell Park Friday, April 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Soccer Gets Physical

Competition matches between Chico and PV high schools are always tough. The local rivalry can bring aggressive competition. And girls soccer was no exception. Soccer can be a tough sport with strong physical contact, but girls soccer is usually expected to not have its pushy players or intense match ups. Both sides of the teams were in full pressure as they battled for the ball.

Chico High's #6 Taylor Stahl (left) dribbles against Pleasant Valley High's #11 Gracie Hernandez (right) in the first half of their girls soccer game at PVHS field Friday, April 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's #6 Taylor Stahl (left) dribbles against Pleasant Valley High's #11 Gracie Hernandez (right) in the first half of their girls soccer game at PVHS field Friday, April 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's #15 Alex Freed (right) against Pleasant Valley High's #4 Mallori Nelson (left) in the first half of their girls soccer game at PVHS field Friday, April 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Sewing a Difference

It's great to hear about people doing great things. To many times in the news business we hear about the bad stories or tragedies. And while important, it is good to note that there are positive stories in the mix. I was sent to cover a story about a high school student who started sewing fabric grocery bags with her friends to sell in an effort to raise money for a charity. It was great to see the ambition and creativity of such a young individual.

Arielle Danan, works on sewing their fabric bags in her home Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif. Danan is a senior at Chico High that started a group to sew fabric grocery bags called Local Bags to donate profits to a charity.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Arielle Danan, Beth Stemen 17, and Cara Cannon, 17, work on sewing their fabric bags in Danan's home Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif. Danan is a senior at Chico High that started a group to sew fabric grocery bags called Local Bags to donate profits to a charity.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Arielle Danan, (left) and Cara Cannon, 17, work on adding logos to their fabric bags in Danan's home Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif. Danan is a senior at Chico High that started a group to sew fabric grocery bags called Local Bags to donate profits to a charity.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Beth Stemen 17, works on sewing their fabric bags in Arielle Danan's home Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif. Danan is a senior at Chico High that started a group to sew fabric grocery bags called Local Bags to donate profits to a charity.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Celebrating Cesar Chavez Day

Cesar Chavez Day did bring out hard work in volunteering Chico State students who cleaned up parts of the town. But it also brought out its usual crowd of intoxicated youth celebrating not what the day stands for, but the fact they have the day off. The later afternoon saw an increase in activity. Nothing was out of control or unusual.

Chico Police mounted patrol detectives Abigail Madden (left) waves to people partying at W 4th St and Hazel St. to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

People party in front of a house on W 4th St. and Ivy St. to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

People play music and dance in front of a house on W 4th St. and Ivy St. to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police mounted patrol detectives Jim Parrott (right) keeps an eye on the crowd as detective Abigail Madden (left) detains a suspect who assaulted the horse at W 4th St and Ivy St. in the south campus area during the celebration of Cesar Chavez Day Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Fire engineer Carlos Munoz hoses down a couch frame that was lit of fire as people celebrate Cesar Chavez Day in the south campus area Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico Police administer a DUI checkpoint along Esplanade and E. Lincoln Ave during Cesar Chavez Day Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Tennis Swings into Action

Tennis is a great sport for photographs. The expressions are usually intense and the body language is perfect for action. While you would think going back and forth to follow the ball might make you dizzy, I try to just stay focused on one player at a time. Otherwise I'd get sick.

Pleasant Valley High's Max Littlejohn battes against Chico High's Matt Weeber (not seen) in their boys tennis match at Chico Raquet Club Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's Matt Weeber battles against Pleasant Valley High's Max Littlejohn (not seen) in their boys tennis match at Chico Raquet Club Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Baseball is Back!

A new season of baseball is back on, and I am going to need some practice. After changing camera systems to a slower frame rate (8fps to 5fps) it seems that I am going to have to learn how to photograph action again. I guess I relied to much on the fast frame rate that I didn't even think about my timing. As it turns out, baseball's action is so quick, that my frame rate can't keep up. It looks like I'm going to have to actually start taking pictures now. While I enjoy the video of my new cameras, I do miss the fast speeds of the old system. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with the fast action of the game.

Pleasant Valley High School's #2 Ryan Souza (left) scores at homeplate against Foothill High's #4 Brian Kyncy (center) and #21 Bradon Erickson (right) in the bottom of the third inning during their baseball game at Doryland Field Wednesday, March 30, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Pleasant Valley High School's # 17 Brandon Coborn cheers after a hit against Foothill High in the bottom of the first inning during their baseball game at Doryland Field Wednesday, March 30, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Landing at the Dump

It's not everyday that most people go to the dump. But now, even some people aren't going there at all. The Neal Road Landfill has had a steady decline of trash due to the economy. Yeah, because people are buying less things, there is less trash. Who thought there would be something positive in the economic downturn? I headed out to photograph what it is like for those who still are dropping things off there.

Bob Lininter, of Chico, unloads his vehicle of trash as the Butte County Landfill dump has noticed a decline in the amount of trash the site deals with on a daily basis Wednesday, March 30, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Waste Management unloads trash as the Butte County Landfill dump has noticed a decline in the amount of trash the site deals with on a daily basis Wednesday, March 30, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Seagulls flock over the trash and a truck carrying a load of dirt that will be placed over the trash pile as the Butte County Landfill dump has noticed a decline in the amount of trash the site deals with on a daily basis Wednesday, March 30, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Playing Through It

Some sports players are tough. They'll play through any condition. I did not expect disc-golf players to be that tough. A weekend storm blew through Oroville bringing high winds and a lot of rain. I figured a disc-golf tournament would be cancelled due to the weather, but they carried on. Half of the course was under water due to flooding, so they naturally just moved to a make-shift course elsewhere. Yeah, don't call them weak. I can't see many other team players playing through the storm.

Disc golf competitor Colin Chambers, of Nevada City (right) takes a putt in the makeshift hole that was reset because of the rain and wind for the third annual Feather River Open disc gold tournament at Riverbend Park, Saturday, March 26, 2011 in Oroville, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Waters rose in the Feather River which flooded the disc golf course area at Riverbend Park, Saturday, March 26, 2011 in Oroville, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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Weekend Storm Brings Havoc

Lower Bidwell Park is usually a great place to hike around the numerous trails through thick brush and shaded trees. But with a weekend storm that brought high winds and lots of rain, the trails in Lower Park were left devastated in the storm's path. I walked past a tree of old age that had toppled over into the creek. It was a little sad to see such a huge tree be taken down by Mother Nature. I know that tree won't stand back up and will be sadly missed. The heavy rain waters also turned the trails into rivers. It really was impressive how much damage the storm caused.

A large tree crashed down by heavy winds into Big Chico Creek that flows with high waters in Lower Bidwell Park Area Saturday, March 26, 2011 in Chico, Calif. Heavy rains have increased waterflow in the creeks.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A large tree is stuck in Big Chico Creek at Sycamore Pool at One Mile Recreation Area in Lower Bidwell Park Area Saturday, March 26, 2011 in Chico, Calif. Heavy rains have increased waterflow in the creeks.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Trails are left in ruin with debris from heavy winds and flooding from Big Chico Creek with high waters in Lower Bidwell Park Area Saturday, March 26, 2011 in Chico, Calif. Heavy rains have increased waterflow in the creeks.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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