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Bull Ride has new champion By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Bad Company turned out to be good company for Cody Ibrahimi of La Grand Thursday evening as the bull helped him celebrate the coming of the New Year in a fine fashion. Luck was on Ibrahi- mi's side when he scored a 90-point ride on the bull to seal the deal and take home the buckle at the NBC New Year's Eve Bullride put on by Diamond W Pro- ductions at the Tehama District Fairground. Ibrahimi was one of four to score in the first round, securing a 79.5- point ride on a bull named Little Bit of Bull to advance to the second round in third place. Two more were chosen to fill the remaining slots to make up the top six. Ted Bert, a Modesto native, pulled off an 80 in the first round to advance in second place. Coming into the second half, however, a bull named Paint Ball dashed his chances of keeping the win in the family. Bert won the 2007 New Year's Eve bull ride with a 91 after nar- rowly making it into the second half. His older brother Thomas Bert was last year's winner with an 84. Troy Jensen, the first rider of the night, scored an 81 to secure first going into the finals, but a bull named Fuzzy Chuck derailed his chances by zigging when Jensen zagged. Chris Matthews of Redwood Valley entered in fourth place with a 74-point ride, but he, too, was unable to score Weather forecast 8B Partly cloudy areas of fog 56/37 N EWS D AILY DAILY 50¢ WEEKEND JANUARY 2-3, 2010 New Year New You The Rose Bowl Win Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY 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 See Inside SPORTS 1B USA Weekend 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Two stabbed in New Year's Eve brawl By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The year did not end well for two people who were stabbed Thursday evening near Wal- green's Pharmacy in Red Bluff. Red Bluff Police officers responded at 11:42 p.m. to reports of the stabbing and upon arrival found two men on the ground near the intersection of Metzger and Givens roads. The men, who were not iden- tified, had multiple stab wounds and were taken to St. Elizabeth Community Hospital for treat- ment, according to a RBPD release. Witnesses in the area told officers an altercation between about eight to 10 people had taken place and identified the victims as two of the involved parties. Other suspects in the attempted murder had not been identified Friday, but the police department is looking for Steven Kuss, 21, of Red Bluff as a person of interest who is wanted for questioning. The case is still under inves- tigation and has been forwarded to the Detectives Division for followup, the release said. Anyone with information on either the stabbing incident or the whereabouts of Kuss is asked to contact RBPD at 527- 3131. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com. 8 seconds to midnight Photo courtesy of Ken Otto/Otto Graphics Bull Riding Champion Cody Ibrahimi, of La Grand, has a 90 point ride in the second round. 5 unable to Avoid the 5 By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The celebration of the New Year ended in a jail cell for five individuals who couldn't Avoid the Five in Tehama County. With the new additions, the number of arrests for driving under the influence made in the Avoid the Five Winter Campaign has climbed to at least 23 so far. The campaign runs through Sunday. The California Highway Patrol nabbed the highest num- ber with three arrests made including Jennifer Nichole Bertolino, 25, of Redding; Pedro Valencia Prado, 22, of Red Bluff; and Omar Munguia Valdobinos, 19, of Los Molinos. The Corning Police Department arrested Christina Kath- leen Bell, 33, of Chico and the Red Bluff Police Department arrested Christopher Clonts, 29, of Red Bluff. Numbers for the campaign are provisional, as many of the agencies have yet to report, a press release said. According to the program's Web site, a total of 37 arrests were made during the 2008 Winter Campaign with five arrested on New Year's Eve and one on New Year's Day. Christmas day topped New Year's Eve by one arrest and Christmas Eve 2008 had no arrests. For updated statistics visit www.californiaavoid.org. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com. CHP: Fewer fatalities for 2010, more DUIs SACRAMENTO (AP) — The California Highway Patrol says that five fatal vehicle accidents occurred statewide between New Year's Eve and New Year's morning, five fewer than last year. The five accidents between 6 p.m. Dec. 31 and 6 a.m Jan. 1 claimed six vic- tims because one of those killed included a pregnant woman, said Officer Tommy Riggin, a spokesman for CHP. In 2009, 10 fatal acci- dents claimed the lives of 11 people, Reggin said. While there were fewer fatal accidents, the highway patrol made more arrests for driving under the influence. The CHP Patrol made 527 DUI arrests between New Year's evening and morning 2010, compared to 438 in 2009. First Tehama County babies of 2010 By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Tehama County wel- comed the first baby of 2010, Jessica Chi-Ann Rose Roberts, at 5:15 a.m. Friday at St. Eliza- beth Community Hospi- tal in Red Bluff. Baby Jessica was born to Jessica Ragsdale and Johney Roberts of Red Bluff. She weighed in at 7 pounds, 9 ounces and was 21 inches long. Nico Benjamin Mordecai was born to Sarah and Zack Morde- cai at 4:49 p.m. Friday, was the first boy born in Tehama County for 2010. He weighed in at 8 pounds and was 22.25 inches long. "St. Elizabeth Com- munity Hospital sends a warm welcome to our New Year's babies, and a sincere thank you to our community and their support of the 2010 new born," said Kris Behrens, marketing manager for the hospi- tal. "A special thank you to Anita Parker for her efforts in securing the gifts that will be pre- sented to the New Year's baby." Due to the communi- ty's overwhelming gen- erosity, the gifts that traditionally go to just the first baby, were split between the first boy and first girl in Tehama County, Parker said. Presents were donat- ed by Applebee's, Jessica Chi-Ann Rose Roberts Nico Benjamin Mordecai NTSB says engine failed in Oroville plane crash OROVILLE (AP) — An investigation into a plane crash at the Oroville Municipal Airport in Sep- tember blames a total loss of engine power for the accident, but says it's not clear what caused the fail- ure. The National Trans- portation Safety Board says it has found no mechanical reason for the Sept. 4 crash. The report was released earlier this month. The pilot, Philip Beck, and his wife, Mary, told authorities that their Piper plane started sputtering after they left the runway and began gaining altitude. They turned back but could not return to the airport. The couple from Wood- land landed in a field, suf- fering minor injuries. See 8, page 7A See BABIES, page 7A