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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