November 01, 2005
Contact us
Tips, comments or photos? Send 'em to us:
520-9790 - rolson -at- chicoer.com
Posted by Ryan at 11:59 PM | Comments (3)
In the E-R - Halloween tradition: It was practically just another school night in downtown Chico
By GREG WELTER - Staff Writer
Published on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
Chico police said only three arrests had been made in the downtown and west side areas as of 11 p.m. Monday.
Two were for public drunkenness and one was for shoplifting.
The totals were in sharp contrast to Halloweens past, and Lt. Mike Weber said he didn't really expect to see things worsen later.
"It's lively for a Monday, but considering it's Halloween, it's a slow, good night for us," Weber said.
"I'd be surprised if there are more than 300 people on the street," said Weber, noting that his estimate included the area around Fifth and Ivy, where large crowds are more likely to gather.
"People are doing what we asked," Weber said. "They're staying away from the downtown area and keeping parties small."
Several porches in the west side area were packed with celebrants, but for the most part, police said, they were staying off the streets and sidewalks.
Earlier in the evening, Chico State University President Paul Zingg walked through the neighborhood south of campus, and called the evening "a quiet event."
Personnel at area liquor stores said business was slow, but bars were doing a brisk business. At 10 p.m. about 100 people stood outside Riley's, waiting for space to open up inside.
As of 11 p.m., the Chico Fire Department responded to no couch or trash bin fires, a staple among the trouble that marked Halloweens of the past.
As of 11 p.m. there were no drunken driving arrests made at two DUI checkpoints entering the downtown area.
Aside from police, who had about 400 personnel patrolling the downtown area, one of the largest groups in Chico Monday night were students from Bethel Ministry in Redding. About 100 of them got permission from the city to come here and, in their words, pray for peace.
Greg Welter can be reached at 896-7768 or gwelter@chicoer.com. Staff writer Melissa Daughterty contributed to this report.
Posted by Ryan at 01:45 AM | Comments (1)
Winding down
From Ryan @ 12:35 a.m.
Heading back to my redoubt high above Chico, things appear to be settling down for the night.
Many of the house parties I've been observing all evening long have concluded or gone inside. Many of the people on the streets appear to making their way home, some obviously needing assistance from their friends.
Traffic seems to be moving normally although there are still numerous police vehicles driving about.
The temperature is a brisk 52º. ;-)
This might be the last post for the night, unless something big happens. I'm going to head downtown to see the bars close up and maybe talk with a police officer at the staging area. I might stop for a late dinner at Jack's.
I want to thank chief photographer Bill Husa, staff writer Melissa Daugherty and photographer Ty Barbour for their contributions tonight. Also, thanks to the E-R Web production team for getting the site launched in a timely fashion.
Thanks are also due to the readers for stopping by. It's not too late to leave feedback to let us know what you think. Please send comments to rolson -at- chicoer.com
This has been your host and E-R staff writer Ryan Olson. Have a good night.
Posted by Ryan at 01:25 AM | Comments (0)
Looking forward
From Ryan @ 12:25 a.m.
Thomas Whitcher, Associated Students president at Chico State University, said the time has come for the students and other community members to "take ownership" of Halloween.
After successfully halting the violence that has occurred during the holiday, he said the community needs to make the holiday one for Chico residents in future years.
"Now it's time to release it back to the community," Whitcher said.
Whitcher said there were many factors leading to this year's Halloween turnout. He said the event falling on a Monday helped as well as several professors scheduling midterms and paper due dates around the holiday.
Whitcher called this year's incarnation of the student government's alternative to partying and going to bars a success. Whitcher and others had just finished cleaning up from a late-night breakfast held outside the Bell Memorial Union. The breakfast, which included hashbrowns, eggs and sausage, was a capper to a night that included stand-up comedians and a costume contest.
He estimated that there was a total of 400 people on hand to see the "Halloween FrightFest Comedy Night," with about 250-300 people in the ballroom at any given time. An estimated 700 people attended last year's event.
Tonight, Whitcher said attendance peaked when Judah Friedlander performed. After the show, attendees took part in the free breakfast at 11 p.m. Several people coming from the bars and passers-by also partook of the food.
Posted by Ryan at 01:03 AM | Comments (0)
In line at Riley's
From Ryan @ 11 p.m.
A colorful and sometimes rag-tag bunch of people lined up to seek admission into Riley's tonight.
Renee and Constantine Takwi, of Chico, were waiting for about 35 minutes to get into the bar as the line stretched down the length of the building along Ivy Street.
"I just want to get in there," Renee Takwi said. "I can't wait to have a drink."
Riley's was the first place they had visited tonight after walking around downtown. Renee Takwi, dressed as a vampire, said the neighborhood was "too mellow" with the large number of police present.
This was the Takwis' second Halloween in Chico after their first time in 2003. They said the crowds were similar.
Constantine Takwi said the city could probably reduce the number of police patrolling the event.
"If the city of Chico can relax the amount of security that they put out into the town, I think they'll have more fun," he said.
The line was one of the most active places downtown tonight. As people milled about, a bouncer would occasionally remind people to keep the sidewalk clear unless they were waiting to go in.
At the back of the line, Chico State juniors Jennifer Dingman and Kelly Kreiensieck waited. Dressed as mobster wives, they said this was their first Halloween in Chico.
Dingman said she was having a good time, but she expected more before reading about the enforcement efforts.
"It's not as fun as I thought it would be," she said.
Dingman said her fiancé opted not to come into town because of the commercials discouraging out-of-towners. She said tonight was similar to other nights and called Chico a good town.
Kreiensieck said she felt safe walking through downtown with the significant number of police.
"I don't really think that anybody's going to get out of control," she said.
Posted by Ryan at 12:41 AM | Comments (0)
And the walls came tumblin' down
From Ryan @ 12:12 a.m.
Some of the police barricades are gone. Well, the one on the corner of West Eighth and Hazel streets has been removed.
Posted by Ryan at 12:11 AM | Comments (1)
After walkabout, Zingg calls night 'quiet event'
From Melissa Daugherty and Ryan O. @ 10:55 p.m.
Walking through downtown Halloween night, Chico State University President Paul Zingg called the evening a "quiet event."
Starting at 9:30 p.m., Zingg walked through the neighborhood south of campus, passed by downtown bars and stopped briefly at the intersection of West Fifth and Ivy streets.
This is the second Chico Halloween that Zingg has observed. Compared to the same time of night last year, he said this year's festivities are quieter.
"There are fewer people as well as fewer police," Zingg said.
During his walk, several students approached Zingg to say hello. Some said they weren't planning to go out in respect to the calls for caution during the night. There were no indications of any large house parties along Zingg's route.
Zingg has walked through the downtown on other nights. He noted there were far more people during the first weekend of the fall semester (Aug. 26-27).
Zingg predicted Halloween would gradually evolve into a good event as people begin to feel safer about the event.
"It'll be fun, but it'll also be safe and comfortable," Zingg said.
There was only one arrest (for being drunk in public) through 10:30 p.m.
Posted by Ryan at 12:02 AM | Comments (0)