By Terra Avilla
There are few things as rewarding as watching someone grow up right in front of you. I still remember when little Katie Turner used to come strolling into school late… Starbucks in hand… while I was standing there shaking my head and reminding her that the bell meant go to class, not grab a drink.
She’d give me that classic teenage eye roll that said, “A-Vill—AAA you’re being so dramatic,” and then saunter away.
Fast forward to today, and Katie has turned into someone I couldn’t be prouder of.
She’s one of the faces that make Bing’s Restaurant in Susanville such a great local spot. Every time I walk in with my three wild girls… or the 46 college baseball players who count on her to keep up with their energy, Katie handles it all with her usual calm, humor and heart.
She’s not just good at her job, she’s great at it. The kind of person who remembers your order, checks in on how you’re doing, and somehow makes everyone at the table feel like family. My girls love Bings, and that is 1,000% because they love Ms. Katie.
What makes me proudest of Katie has nothing to do with her work and everything to do with who she is. Being a single mom isn’t easy, anyone who’s walked that road knows the strength it takes. Yet Katie shines in it.
You can see it in the way she grinds every day for her daughter, and the way she loves and speaks about her little one (with pure love and pride.) She shows up every day, does the hard stuff, and still finds a way to light up any room she walks into.
It’s moments like these seeing people like Katie grow, push through life’s challenges, and turn into strong, caring community members, that remind me why Lassen County is home.
Because at the heart of this place are people like her. Resilient, real, and full of heart.
