On the Madeline Plains, one just never knows what to expect, especially if it included well-known rancher, John Casey. Seasoned residents are familiar with his many antics, and this particular episode garnered national attention.
The tale began to unravel when Bill and Florence Anderegg, caretakers of the Dodge Ranch in the eastern section of the Madeline Plains brought 13 Laotians to Lassen Memorial Hospital for medical care. Lassen County Welfare Director Marty Herzog was notified. Herzog in turn contacted the Northern California Emergency Team out of Redding and on September 2, 1976 they visited Dodge Ranch to find 27 Laotian refugees there, who were in dire straits. Fortunately, Vang Song, was the only Laotian that could speak English. The Laotians were bused into Susanville, where they were given additional medical care, clothing, food and shelter. By mid-September the Laotians were transported to a refugee camp near San Diego, so they could find jobs and sponsors. When John Casey was questioned about the Laotians, he pled ignorance, even though according to Vang Song, Casey was their sponsor from Thailand.
