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WEEKEND DECEMBER 10-11, 2011 Breaking news at: Charlize Theron's low-key life USA Weekend www.redbluffdailynews.com See Inside RED BLUFF Cahill Traded SPORTS 1B Mostly sunny 62/33 Weather forecast 8B By ANDREA WAGNER DN Staff Writer Four suspects authorities believe are responsible for a string of thefts in the Antelope and other areas of Red Bluff this week have DAILYNEWS TEHAMACOUNTY DAILY 50¢ T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Arrests made in string of area thefts been arrested. Between Monday evening and Thursday afternoon, more than 20 people reported items stolen from their vehicles and garages. The incidents began when at least nine residents reported Tues- day they were robbed during the night in the Antelope area, includ- ing several residences in the Rio Vista Mobile Estates and on San Joaquin Drive. Sheriff's deputies had a lead on a white vehicle that the culprits were possibly using to drive along- side vehicles while passengers got out to steal items, said Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston. More thefts were reported again Wednesday from the night before when similar robberies swept Volunteers save Christmas through the neighborhoods of Monrovia Street, Reta Way, Man- ter Parcel and Denniston Court. However, they had no suspects until early Thursday morning when a resident in the 21600 May- See THEFTS, page 7A Fair returns to parking fees By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The Tehama District Fairboard approved its 2012 operating budget Tuesday, along with increases and cuts for the 2012 Tehama District Fair and discussed charg- ing a second gate for the Destruction Derby. With the elimination of state funding, the fairboard has been making cuts wherever it can to make up for the $200,000 gap in its budget, Fair CEO Mark Eidman said. "We all have to work together to get the wheels run- See FAIR, page 7A Flynn takes fifth turn as mayor By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer Mayor Pro Photo by Bob McConnell Landon Skelton watches as Marcie Skelton makes a pomander at the 33rd annual Pioneer Christmas Party in 2010 at William B. Ide Adobe State Historical Park. By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The Pioneer Christmas Party at William B. Ide Adobe State Histor- ical Park, set for 1-4 p.m. on Satur- day, Dec. 17, will make at least one more appearance at the park, 21659 Adobe Road, in Red Bluff slated to close June 1. "For the most part, it'll be pretty much like it always has been, but it depends on the number of volun- teers we have," said State Park Interpreter Debbie Chakarun. Set in the 1850s, visitors will get a view of how the holiday was cele- brated in the early days including events such as the breaking of the Christmas bag, which is similar to a pinata, she said. The longest running event at the park, participants will be able to make rings from horseshoe nails, decorate gingerbread, watch the blacksmith at work, make candles Prison psychologist accused of faking rape SACRAMENTO (AP) — She split her own lip with a pin, scraped her knuckles with sandpaper and had her friend punch her in the face. Investigators say she even ripped open her blouse, then wet her pants to give the appearance she had been knocked unconscious. But it was all part of what authorities said Friday was an elaborate hoax by the woman to convince her hus- band she was raped so they could move to a safer neigh- borhood. Charges filed by the Sacramento County district attorney allege Laurie Ann Martinez, a prison psycholo- gist, conspired with the friend to create the appear- ance that she was beaten, robbed and raped by a stranger in April in her Sacramento home. Martinez, her friend and two co-workers eventually told police the whole thing was a setup to convince Martinez's husband that they needed to move from a blighted, high-crime area three miles north of the state Capitol. It didn't work. Instead, the couple filed for divorce six weeks after the April 10 incident, according to court records. ''If all you wanted to do is move, there's other ways than staging a burglary and rape,'' said Sacramento police Sgt. Andrew Pettit. ''She went to great lengths to make this appear real.'' Martinez, 36, a psycholo- gist for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, reported she had come home that day to find a stranger in her kitchen, authorities said. ''As she tried to run away, the suspect grabbed her and hit her in the face,'' court records say in describing what she told police. ''She lost consciousness and then when she awoke she found her pants and underwear pulled down to her ankles.'' Missing from her home were two laptop computers, Martinez's purse, an Xbox video game console, a cam- era and numerous credit cards that Martinez said the stranger had stolen. In reality, the items were all at the home of her friend, Nicole April Snyder, author- ities allege. Investigators say Martinez had Snyder punch her in the face with boxing gloves they bought for that purpose. Martinez began crying hysterically when police arrived, according to court 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 See FAKE, page 7A and write Christmas messages at the 34th annual event, she said. "The kids love to do the tin punching ornaments using the ham- mer and other tools to punch the tin," Chakarun said. "They also enjoy making pomanders, which were used to make clothes fresh." Pioneer holidays were quite dif- ferent from modern times, she said. "One of the things that is differ- ent is that back in the 1850s the pre- See SAVE, page 7A Tem Forrest Flynn was unan- imously chosen Tuesday by his peers on the Red Bluff City Council to serve as mayor during the council's annual reorgani- zation meeting. This will be Flynn's fifth time serving as mayor. While he has held the position many times before, Flynn said he was honored to be chosen again. "I've been mayor a cou- ple of times and each time Flynn I'm overwhelmed. It's not something that you can take for granted," Flynn said. He replaces outgoing Mayor Bob Carrel. During Car- rel's term as mayor he served on the Budget Com- mittee and was instrumental in easing the city's labor negotia- tions with employees, work- ing directly with individual employees and not just department heads. Councilman Wayne See FLYNN, page 7A Corning installs way-finding signs By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Corning has a new way to greet visitors and help them find their way around, especially when it relates to olives or other agricultural related businesses located in the Olive City. On Thursday, PG&E assisted in putting up a way-finding sign, first proposed by Dewey Lucero of Lucero Olive Oil and approved in August by the City Council. The sign, which sits on South Avenue near Taco Bell and Loves Truck Stop, bears the new "Swoosh" logo fea- turing olives that Lucero's company paid for and gifted to the city to be used by businesses in the community to add unity to the overall look. "This project has taken over a year to complete, however it will be well worth the time, and benefit all business in Corning," Lucero said. "The new theme for Corning is now the "Center of the Olive Universe," and we aim to capitalize on this refreshed concept with the new emergence of the California Olive Oil Industry, and rebirth of the gourmet olive." their way through they may stop for a sandwich, coffee, gas or even spend the night; all of which can bring revenue into the city of Corn- ing." The adoption of the logo and the new sign are a huge step forward for Corning in leading the way in branding, and setting itself apart as something special and well-worth the visit, he said. "I'd like to give a spe- cial thank you to the city of Corning, Tom White Construction, Bob Sea- man Welding, Volun- teers from PG&E and the Corning Rotary Club for helping with this project," Lucero said. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews .com. Courtesy photo PG&E volunteers help put up a way-finding sign on of South Avenue near Taco Bell and Loves Truck Stop. Lucero said he believes that Corning can become the Napa of the California Olive Oil and the Olive Industry. "Our idea is to attract travelers passing by on Interstate-5, and turn them into tourists for a quick stop to enjoy olive oil tasting or olive sam- pling," Lucero said. "On Pine Street Plaza Holiday Open House Mon., Dec. 12th 2pm to 5pm 332 Pine Street Red Bluff