Jerry Sanchez, Sr.

Having been inside—and around—Whistlestop Park in downtown Redding for a number of years, never was it so jam-packed with people, dogs, and kids as it was on Friday, July 3, 2026, when (and where) the Redding Hot Dog Eating Championship took place. Billed as a fun-filled evening with laughs, excitement, and friendly competition, the Redding Hot Dog Eating Championship featured 10 male participants wolfing down as many hot dogs as they could—all in a span of five minutes. Organized by the...

A community parade full of patriotism, creativity, and hometown pride, featuring decorated floats, classic cars, businesses, community and sports groups, bands, dancers, and first responders, took place along the city’s North Street on Friday morning, July 3, 2026. Here are a few comments from people who enjoyed the parade : BRENDA LEE HAYNES - “Great parade in downtown Anderson; Such a large crowd of happy, grateful patriotic Americans celebrating our Nation’s 250th birthday. Good to catch...

El Pollo Loco (EPL), opened since mid-May at 4615 Churn Creek Road (near Costco) in Redding, California, held its Grand Opening celebration on June 30, 2026, with the first 100 attendees receiving a complimentary meal of 2 pieces of chicken (leg & thigh) with rice and beans. “I really liked that they gave away 100 meals to the first hundred attendees…and everyone got their chance to spin that wheel and get their prize,” said Redding Buzz’s Jason Stovall. El Pollo Loco is a quick-service...

The Redding Rancheria really knows how to throw an everyone—is—-welcome party, and “The Big Time Event,” organized and presented by the Redding Rancheria, was no exception. The Redding Rancheria held its seventh-annual “Big Time Event” on June 26, 27 & 28, ‘26 in the Win River Resort and Casino’s lower parking lot. The event featured the most important element: a diverse, enthusiastic crowd, plus traditional dancers (like the Pomo), cultural demonstrations, artisan and food vendors, and a...

On a warm, yet slightly cool, Saturday evening, all of the pieces seemed to fall into place, so the Anti Racism Task Force (ARTF) was able to successfully host a free concert and silent auction on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lake Redding Park’s gazebo. As told by ARTF’s President, Eddie McAllister: “The ARTF free concert in the park—and silent auction—was a fundraiser for the upcoming film series called “Our Shared History,” which will be shown at the First United Methodist Church, which is...

Joe Mosier, John Polizzi, Scott Parsons, Rick Ricketts, and David Lee are the Life In The Fast Lane Band. Man, was it hot (over 100 degrees!) on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, but that didn’t stop 3,000+ Shasta County-ians from turning out to the Sierra Pacific Industries Amphitheater in Anderson, California, to rock out—-and dance—-to the Reno-based Life In The Fast Lane Band who, since 1993, have been recreating the sounds and success of what is (arguably) America’s best rock band—The Eagles....

Chris and Brittany Ghidirelli have 3 kids. They also own 3 Shastas Towing and Recovery, with 3 locations, two in Redding and one in Weaverville, with all 3 offering: 1.-Vehicle towing primarily in Shasta, Tehama, Siskiyou and Trinity counties, although they’re not averse to offer service from Sacramento, northward to Redding, and even all the way up to Oregon; 2.-Vehicle removal (no title, no problem!); 3.-Property clean ups and 4.-Property towing. Here’s more: 5.-Towing recovery;...

Scarlett Rose received the Harvey-Witchita Award. The every third Saturday meeting of the Korean Veterans Association of Redding (KVAR), at Redding’s Country Waffles restaurant, proved not only to be inspirational, but also informative, as Scarlett Rose and Kim Chamberlain related their experiences and appreciation to approximately 22 KVAR members present on Saturday, June 20, inside the meeting room of Country Waffles restaurant in Redding. As KVAR’s keynote speaker, Scarlett Rose, an...

What a large and festive gathering it was in downtown Redding, with many dozens of people at Whistlestop Park to recognize Juneteenth. From 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026, Juneteenth celebrants were treated to a “prescription of fun,” such as live performances of on-stage talent, DJ dance music, a comedy show, face painting, zone grab, motivational speakers, loads of information from non-profits, food trucks, and fellowship. As described by Eddie McAllister and Jodeah Wilson,...

Carole & Dennis Bartels, founders of Bartels Giant Burger - Redding, Anderson & Corning fixtures. Their newest location is in Red Bluff Update - June 19, 2026 On Thursday, June 18, Shasta Unfiltered's very own man-about-town, Jerry Sanchez proudly presented the original portrait that famed forensic artist, Robert Exner prepared of Carole and Dennis Bartels. Original Article: Do you remember that mid ‘70s Rod Stewart song, with the following, very apropos, lyric: “Young hearts be free...

When people get together, especially if they are in the business and non-profit world, good, mutually beneficial things can happen. But it takes someone, some entity… to effectively organize these “always busy” business and nonprofit entities. One of the best to carry out these necessities is the Red Bluff/Tehama County Chamber of Commerce, which recently put together a Regional Chamber Meeting at the Rolling Hills Resort and Casino, very near downtown Corning, California. The turnout to...

Mosquito Serenade (Summer!) 2026 just wrapped up its first concert of the summer, with Ashley Black performing for one hour and firing up thousands of attendees before one of Shasta County’s own, Chad Bushnell, took over the Sierra Pacific Industries Amphitheater Stage, at Anderson River Park…….and wowed everyone until nine o’clock. Sketch of Chad Bushnell by Robert Exter Watch how Robert Exter creates his amazing sketches by clicking on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDwrn7lb6IM...

Many Hundreds of People & Dogs Soak Up Great Weather, Small Town Atmosphere, at Old Lewiston Peddlers Faire In 1990, the Lewiston Community Foundation, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit set up to revitalize the Trinity County historic town of Lewiston, California, assumed the sponsorship of the Old Lewiston Peddlers Faire, two years after it had begun in 1988. Fast forward 38 years to the present day, specifically Saturday, June 6, 2026, when the Old Lewiston Peddlers Faire was held, and anyone who’s...

Located in downtown Red Bluff at 620 Main Street, a few doors north of Antelope Boulevard, Krystyna’s was named after Krystyna Jolanta Kurowski, who was born in Sopot, Poland, in 1950 and emigrated to the United States in the early ‘8Os. Krystyna’s can best be described as a Polish comfort food haven.

“As we celebrate one year of being open, I cannot express how thankful I am for every single one of you…..and for all of the people that have not just purchased things from us, but also those who shared all of our posts and spread the word that we exist,” exulted Derek Nichols, as he welcomed a throng of well wishers attending a Nichols Appliance And Mattress Center first year, parking lot anniversary party on Wednesday, June 2, 2026. The one-year celebration featured raffles and giveaways,...

It was “batter-up time” on Friday, May 30, 2026, when the beloved Colt 45s baseball team, under the direction of general manager Rick Bosetti, and team manager Bob Anderson, played host to the Watsonville Aggies to kick off the 22nd season, playing at historic 100-year-old Tiger Field. And after the Colt 45s shut out the Aggies, 2-0, several Colt 45 fans weighed in on why they absolutely dig the Colt 45s: Dr. Samuel Carrino, Jr. “I was the original Colt 45s catcher in 2002-‘03. In 2004,...

Redding, CA – May 30, 2026 — Under the lights of historic Tiger Field, the Redding Colt 45s launched their 2026 summer collegiate baseball season on Friday, May 29, with a strong 2-0 shutout victory over the Watsonville Aggies. The home opener against the Watsonville Aggies doubled as Honor Veterans Night, drawing a strong crowd of families, baseball fans, and local veterans. General Manager Rick Bosetti, the driving force behind the Colt 45s for over two decades, once again helped...

If you were fortunate—and blessed—to be able to attend the Annual Shasta County Veterans Memorial Service on (the true) Memorial Day, at Redding Civic Auditorium’s Veterans Memorial Cove, then you were treated to a patriotic, perhaps tears-inducing… program. But if you, for some reason, were not able to attend, rest assured, because at the end of this article is a link to access a full-length video of the hour-long program. Honoring the sacrifices and services of Veterans, the event’s mood...

Bryce Etzler of Upstate Hearing Instruments gave a hearing presentation, along with several of her fellow hearing specialists, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, to dozens of Anderson Chamber of Commerce Greeters—and guests—who had gathered at the firm’s Tehama street location to hear more about what is, arguably, the most precious of life’s senses……..hearing. Among the more salient points that Bryce and her hearing associates made were No matter your age, everyone should get a hearing test. More...

Maybe it wasn’t Strawberry Fields (forever), but it definitely was Strawberry Festival (now) when the Happy Valley Strawberry Festival, planted in 1942, sprang up once again on Saturday and Sunday, 5-23/24, 2026, at West Valley High School in Cottonwood, California. If you were there, you probably chuckled with hilarity watching kids, even adults, burying their faces in bowls of strawberries, seeking their 15 minutes of fame, if not for money, but certainly for bragging rights and special...

The main purpose of the 8th-annual State of The Tribe Luncheon was to raise funds for the Redding Rancheria Community Fund (RRCF), established 24 years ago, which has donated nearly $5 million to non-profits in Shasta and Trinity counties. The RRCF encourages proposals to serve Native Americans, youth, and/or rural populations. In the public safety and emergency services arena, the RRCC has benefited the American Red Cross, Northern California Chapter; the Shasta County Search and Rescue Team;

You know what would be fun to do regarding the Asphalt Cowboys? Find out how many of them were taken, in 1948, in the grasps of their Moms and Dads, to the very first Redding Rodeo; Or six years later, how many of them were bubbling over with excitement when they were chowing down “great tastin’” fluffy pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage with Mom and Dad, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, at the very first Asphalt Cowboys Pancake Breakfast, started in 1954 as one of the Redding...

A beloved Northern California tradition, known as the Redding Rodeo with the theme—Buckin’ By The River—kicked off for the 78th time on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, invading the hearts and minds of a stadium full of thousands of cheering, clapping, and—indeed—approving rodeo enthusiasts. Nothin’ better than that, huh? According to Jack Potter, the self-deprecating, albeit charming, Chairman of the Redding Rancheria and Win-River Resort and Casino, the members had a great time at the Redding...