Rolling Hills Casino

Congratulations to Leslie Lohse on being named 2012 Woman of the Year for the 2^nd District. She was honored at a ceremony at the State Capitol on Monday.

"Leslie is a passionate and dedicated citizen who ably serves her revered and historic Nomlaki tribe, her community and her state through her selfless leadership," said Assemblyman Jim Nielsen. "Her energy and abilities have ensured a bright future for generations now and yet to be born in the north state."

Leslie, as Treasurer of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Band of Indians, participated in putting together the Tribe’s purchase of over 2,000 acres near Corning, and was instrumental in bringing about the construction of the 70,000-square-foot Rolling Hills Casino that includes three restaurants. She also played an active role in the tribe's success in bringing about two new hotels next to the casino, the John Daly Signature link-style Sevillano Golf Course, and a private hunting club to the tribal lands. The Tribe recently opened the Rolling Hills Clinic, on in Corning and one in Red Bluff, to provide medical and dental services for the county.

The Health Clinic is especially important to Leslie, who is an active community advocate dedicated to making Tehama County a safer, healthier, and more prosperous community. 

Leslie also serves on the California Native American Heritage Commission, National Indian Health Services Budget Committee, Tehama County Girls, Inc. and as the chairwoman for California Tribal Business Alliance.

Leslie and her husband, Larry, live in Willows. They have two sons, Erik and Kyle, and four grandchildren.

Held every March during Women's History Month, the Woman of the Year ceremony recognizes one woman from each of the 80 Assembly districts. It started in 1987. The 2nd Assembly District is comprised of all or parts of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yolo counties.

The Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, owners of Rolling Hills Casino, continued a tradition of giving back to the community in 2011 with over $637,000 of grants and donations to programs benefitting public safety, health care, education, and economic development in Tehama County. 

“We are very proud to be able to give back to the community that we live and work in,” said John Crosby, Economic Development Director for the tribe. “The contributions we make to non profit organizations, fire departments, education and health care programs, and Tehama County government benefit us all, and make our communities safer, healthier, and more prosperous.

The Tribe made education a priority in its charitable giving program this year. According to Marketing Director Kate Grissom, the Rolling Hills Foundation donated $70,000 to educational programs. Donation recipients included SERRF, Expect More Tehama, Sacramento River Discovery Center, Tehama County Department of Education, Exploring Music, and College Options. Education is vital to the future prosperity of Tehama County,” said Grissom.  “We need a highly educated workforce in order to attract strong, growing companies to our area and provide more employment opportunities.”   

The Tribe also earmarked funding for local economic development initiatives and contributed over $26,000 programs such as the Tehama County Branding project. “The Tehama County Branding Project is an ambitious effort to promote tourism and put more cash into the local economy,” explained Grissom. “Increased tourism will provide opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and create more jobs.”

The tribe donated over $300,000 to Tehama County for the general fund and district attorney’s office, $40,000 to public safety agencies, and $21,000 for health care programs. 

Other organizations and programs that benefitted from major sponsorships and grants include CASA of Northern Valley Catholic Social Services, Girls Inc., Connecting Circles of Care, Inc., and Shasta Cascade Wonderland.

Hundreds of organizations benefitted from smaller donations, including prizes such as dinner for two at Timbers, golf passes, and a night at the Inn. “We donated almost $160,000 in prizes for charity raffles and silent auctions,” reported Grissom. “These donations helped organizations raise even more money for their charities.”

Grissom anticipates the Rolling Hills Foundation will focus most of its grants on community development and education in 2012, with sizable contributions to public safety and health.  “We make an effort to support the programs we believe will make the most long-term impact on our community,” said Grissom. 

Christmas was a lot brighter for many families and service organizations thanks to the generosity of Rolling Hills Casino employees who raised over $8,000 for charity through raffles and recycling programs.

An employee raffle raised almost $6,000, while a recycling program organized by Food and Beverage Department employees raised $2,500.  The money raised enabled employees to purchase gifts for needy families and individuals through the NCCS Northern California Catholic Social Services, Glenn County Adopt a Family, and Salvation Army Angel Tree programs.  Employees also donated part of the raffle proceeds to the Corning Christian Assistance, Corning Fire Department, Northern Valley  Catholic Social Services, Alternatives to Violence in Red Bluff, Just for Children in Orland, and the Family Service Agency of Tehama County.

“We have awesome employees, “ said Gretchen Allen, Human Resources Manager for the Casino. According to Allen, community involvement and charitable giving doesn’t’ begin and end with the holiday season. Many casino employees are volunteers for Relay for Life, Expect More Tehama, and other programs dedicated to the health, safety and education of our community.  

The road in front of Rolling Hills Casino has a new name in honor of someone who dedicated his life to making Tehama County a better place for us all. The Tehama County Board of Supervisors unanimously gave its approval to rename the drive after Everett Freeman, who died in November 2010, at the age of 79.  The new sign for Everett Freeman Way should be arriving very soon.

Everett, who was chairman of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians when Rolling Hills Casino was planned and built, had a vision for our community that included improved economic development, education, health and safety.  Thanks to this vision, more than 600 people are employed at Rolling Hills Casino, Sevillano Links, and the Rolling Hills Medical and Dental Clinics.  Under Everett’s leadership, the Tribe and Rolling Hills contributed millions of dollars for county improvement projects, hospital equipment, an ambulance, police safety equipment, fire fighting equipment, a ladder truck, and much, much more. Rolling Hills continues to provide community support and is involved in many programs that strive to improve our future. 

Before Everett retired, he built roads on Indian reservations for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which makes it a very special tribute to have a road named after him.

Continuing Everett’s legacy, Rolling Hills is proud to be a supporter of the Read and Reap Celebration and Library Book Sale at the Tehama County Library as well as the 14^th Annual Orchard Festival at Lassen View School — all on October 15. 

Click here for more information about Expect More Tehama and the Read and Reap celebration http://expectmoretehama.com/?p=181.

To date, the Annual Orchard Festivals have raised $110,500 in scholarships. They’ve been an important resource to sending local youth to college. Help support education by making plans to attend this exciting community event with great food, music, children's activities, local produce and more! For more information about the festival visit: http://dairyvillefestival.org

After the festival head over to Rolling Hills Casino for a Filet Mignon and shrimp dinner in Timbers Steakhouse for only $18.  If you feel like dancing or listening to some live country music, Buck Ford is playing Saturday night from 9pm to 1am.  Admission is free.