Deputies with the Shasta County Sheriff’s Boating Safety Unit had a tragedy-free Memorial Day weekend. More than 130 houseboats loaded with students from the University of Oregon and U.C. Davis spent the weekend on Slaughterhouse Island. A safe boat at the island with medical personnel from Common Spirit/Dignity Health treated 35 students for mostly minor injuries, though 4 were transported to hospitals for more serious injuries, a drug overdose and alcohol poisoning. There was only one boating under the influence arrest on the lake and 7 citations were written. There were 4 non-injury boating accidents. Boating deputies also made some rescues on the Sacramento River. On Saturday 3 people were stranded on an island west of the Sundial Bridge after they got separated from their kayaks. Deputies reunited them. Monday morning two kayakers fell in the water near Riverland Drive. One was clinging to some bushes and the other was holding a kayak. They were with a group of 6 kayakers, all of whom were taken to Bonnyview. Monday afternoon a woman climbed up a bank to a backyard on Felstet Lane off East Bonnyview and told the resident she had lost her sister after her kayak capsized. The sister was found holding onto a rock in the river. Also Monday afternoon, a group was rescued after their boat got grounded on rocks west of the Sundial. Deputies want to remind everyone to wear a life jacket while boating.
– Steve Gibson