Burney Safeway to add hours for seniors, others “at-risk” amidst COVID-19
BURNEY, Calif. — Residents of the small Intermountain community of Burney are applauding the recent decision by the town’s sole grocery store to add to the hours already designated for elderly, handicap, or at-risk shoppers amidst the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency.
Based on comments and responses to a social media post announcing the store’s updated hours, area residents seem to overwhelmingly support the decision; with many thanking the store’s management and employees for their handling of day-to-day operations as the novel coronavirus crisis continues.
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“We’ve been getting a lot of questions about our senior or at risk customer shopping hours,” manager Ken Shaffer explained in a social media post detailing the store’s soon-to-change hours set aside for customers with special needs.
Although the store has already been offering special hours and consideration for seniors and others considered at high risk on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m.; beginning next week the store will be adding Sunday mornings to the times set aside for those needing special consideration.
The pharmacy will also be open at 7 a.m. on the same days, according to Shaffer.
For now, the special hours will continue to be a suggestion and not an enforced order; which has already worked fine in the small and close-knit, working class community of just 3,200.
“We are not policing it at this time,” explained Shaffer. “We are simply asking others not to shop during those hours – meaning we have not and will not turn anyone away.”
Shaffer also explained the store is not specifying the age cut-off for shoppers during those hours and employees will not be questioning why anyone choosing to shop during those hours considers themselves “at risk.”
“We have not designated a specific age, and if anyone feels like they are at risk, they are welcome to shop during those times,” explained Shaffer.
After learning about the additional hours set aside for seniors, many area residents thanked Shaffer, who resides in Burney with his family. Others made a point to thank the store’s employees for their continued handling of day-to-day operations despite the difficulties – and constant changes – caused by COVID-19.
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“I for one am grateful,” commented Diana Rogers; explaining she considers herself “very high risk.”
“People are being cautious and I appreciate their efforts, but this will be an extra measure,” Rogers continued.
“Ken, I appreciate all you and your crew are doing. You have a great staff, and a great store,” Burney resident Annie Bauer commented; writing, “We shall get through this with kindness and respect for each other.”
Safeway is located at 37264 Main St., in downtown Burney.
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Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.