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The Associated Press SACRAMENTO California reg- ulators are speeding up water- efficiency standards for faucets and urinals in response to the drought. The new standards developed by the California Energy Com- mission, approved Wednesday, will require the appliances to use less water when installed in homes and office buildings starting in January 2016. The standards take effect six months ahead of schedule be- cause of Gov. Jerry Brown's ex- ecutive order last week impos- ing sweeping water-saving mea- sures. The order also allows the commission to prohibit stores from selling outdated models in 2016. The new rules mean urinals can't flush more than an eighth of a gallon, down from half a gallon. All faucets were previ- ously allowed to pour 2.2 gal- lons a minute: The updated standards lower that to 1.2 for home bathrooms, 1.8 for kitch- ens and a half gallon for public bathrooms. Low-flush toilets standards took effect in 2014 under legis- lation signed in 2007. The com- mission also voted to lower its toilet water standard from 1.6 gallons a flush to 1.28 gallons to match the law. "In the face of California's current drought, we must use water as efficiently as possible and updating minimum stan- dards for toilets, urinals and faucets is a step in that direc- tion," energy commission An- drew McAllister said in a news release. The commission says the standards will save 10 billion gallons of water in 2016, and will eventually save more than 100 billions of gallons a year as more bathrooms and kitchens are renovated and built. The standards apply to new buildings and installations and do not require retrofitting. At a Thursday briefing on the drought in Sacramento, state officials reiterated their call for homes and businesses to slash water use as dry con- ditions loom with no clear end in sight. "It's just smart to take con- servation measures first and foremost," said Felicia Marcus, chairwoman of the State Water Resources Control Board. "It's the cheapest, fastest, smartest way to extend whatever storage you have." DROUGHT Statespeeds water-efficiency standards for faucets, urinals RED BLUFF The 11 Days of Round-Up began with break- fast, music and a whole lot of community support Thurs- day morning at the Red Bluff-Tehama County Cham- ber of Commerce's Cowboy Coffee held at Red Bluff Dodge. The official kick-off to the Round-Up allowed Associa- tion directors to mix with other community members who are sponsoring events over the coming week-and- a-half. The event featured live performances from Loosely Strung and Chad Bushnell. Chamber CEO Dave Gowan and Chairwoman Kristen Gray ran down the schedule of events. The Chamber then pre- sented awards to the best decorated businesses in town that used the Round- Up's 2015 theme of "Legends & Legacy." Three Grand Prize awards were handed out to Tobin & Associates, Book Barn and the Tehama County Library. Six businesses received Appreciation rewards: Wells Fargo Bank, Liberty Lock, Brookdale, American West Bank, Cornerstone Bank and Darkside. Round-Up events continue Friday with the Shasta Col- lege Heritage Film Festival at the Red Bluff State The- atre. "An American Tail: Fievel Goes West" will be played at 2 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and there will be activ- ities in the lobby. At 7 p.m. "Quigley Down Under" starring Tom Selleck is scheduled to play. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Coyotes will be per- forming western music from 6:45 to 7:15 p.m. RED BLUFF ROUNDING UP CAFFEINE Coffee,musickickofffestivitiesThursday PHOTOSBYRICHGREENE-DAILYNEWS The Red Bluff Round-Up Association attended Thursday's Cowboy Coffee event held at Red Bluff Dodge. By Andre Byik abyik@redbluffdailynews.com @andrebyik on Twitter RED BLUFF A Tehama District Fair board director has been ap- pointed to a task force charged with advocating the importance of California fairgrounds. Greg O'Sullivan of Red Bluff was appointed Wednesday to the Western Fairs Association's Cali- fornia Fair Director Study Group whose purpose is to provide Gov. Jerry Brown, "his administra- tors, our advocacy team, and the California Fairs Alliance, with a 'sounding board' resource as they develop California fair-related policies concerning fair funding," said Troy Bowers, president of the Western Fairs Association (WFA), in an appointment letter. The state Legislature elimi- nated fair funding in 2011, which resulted in a $200,000 cut to the Tehama District Fairground. O'Sullivan said in an email Thursday that the Tehama fair- grounds, like many rural North- ern California fairs, "has expe- rienced some difficult times," adding that all fairs require a long-term investment of capital. "I think it will be important to convey to the Governor that rural (fairgrounds) are not looking for a handout," he said. "But rather a significant investment to secure their future in the communities they have served." The study group comprises fair directors from each of the WFA's seven fair areas, accord- ing to the letter. In all, 17 direc- tors have been selected to the study group. "Our state has close to 1,000 fair directors, and more than 450 are appointed by the Governor," according to the letter. "While they represent a valuable re- source to fairs at the local level, the sheer numbers make it dif- ficult to generate representative input on statewide issues." O'Sullivan has been appointed to represent the "Cascade" area, which includes the Tehama Dis- trict Fair, Shasta District Fair, Intermountain Fair of Shasta County, Modoc District Fair, Tu- lelake-Butte Valley Fair, Plumas Sierra County Fair, Siskiyou Golden Fair, Trinity County Fair and Lassen County Fair. TEHAMA DISTRICT FAIR Director to stress need for fair funding in new role By Rich Greene rgreene@redbluffdailynews.com @richgreenenews on Twitter RED BLUFF Just three blocks from the home where she was kept locked up in a box, tortured and raped, Colleen Stan was the featured speaker Thursday at the 2015 Tehama County Crime Victims' Recognition Ceremony held at the Board of Supervisors Chamber. It was the first time Stan had spoken publicly in Tehama County in decades. The Tehama County Victim and Witness Assistance Pro- gram had moved their ceremony up to accommodate Stan, who on April 16 is scheduled to speak at the parole hearing of Cameron Hooker, the man who kidnapped her and kept her as a slave. Hooker was sentenced to 104 years in prison, but a change in California law dealing with el- derly prisoners has allowed his case to come up for parole. "I can't believe I will have to defend myself again," Stan said. Stan said she could not put into words the pain she went through. She said she still suffers phys- ically and emotionally from the seven-plus years Hooker kept her in captivity. VICTIMS WITNESS ColleenStanempowersfamilies State Senator Jim Nielsen presents Colleen Stan with a California Senate Resolution honoring her sacrifices Thursday. RICH GREENE - DAILY NEWS Sports.............. B1 Lifestyles........ A7 Community.....A3 Education...... A10 Comics ............B3 Opinion............A6 Index............... ## INDEX The Tehama County Cattle- men are looking for applicants for the Ron S. Knight Memorial Scholarship. PAGEA7 LIFESTYLES RonKnightscholarship applicants sought The Red Bluff Spartans won their first three games at the Spring Slam baseball tourna- ment in Redding. PAGE B1 SPORTS Spartans reach CV's Spring Slam final Data: Chronic delays in Vet- erans Affairs health system concentrated in just a fraction of its hospitals. PAGE A8 VETERANS Worst VA care wait times seen in the South Since 2004, airports that handle 75% of US passenger traffic have been breached 268times. PAGE A5 FLIGHT SECURITY Probe details perimeter breaches at airports Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce CEO Dave Gowan speaks Thursday morning at the Cowboy Coffee event held at Red Bluff Dodge. The official kick- off to the Round- Up allowed Association directors to mix with other community members who are sponsoring events over the coming week- and-a-half. STAN PAGE 11 DIRECTOR PAGE 11 O'Sullivan appointed to Western Fairs Association fair director study group ยป redbluffdailynews.com Friday, April 10, 2015 50CENTS AN EDITION OF THE CHICO ENTERPRISE-RECORD 7 58551 69001 9 Volume130,issue101 Good morning, thanks for subscribing Vickie Bellus SNOWBOARDING Red Bluff alumni take golds Sports B1 WHITTENBERG Students spruce up for service Education A10 FORECAST High: 73 Low: 45 A12 Grow?Ranchorride? Readaboutlocalandnational Ag, rural, ranch and rodeo news and commentary. VISIT REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM/ RODEO DOYOU RODEO?