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WEDNESDAY APRIL 7, 2010 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See 2A RED BLUFF FREE GARDEN WORKSHOP Memorial lifters SPORTS 1B Sunny 73/44 Weather forecast 8B By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer Repeated lawsuit threats and stories of medical hardship did not stop Tehama County Supervisors from adopting a policy Tuesday aimed at protecting youth from crimes stemming from medical marijuana growth. The policy, which takes effect in 30 days will require six-foot, opaque fences for medical mari- juana gardens, limits plant growth to 12 mature or 24 immature plants on a parcel under 20 acres 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 Marijuana regulations passed and prohibits the growth of mari- juana within 1,000 feet of schools, churches and bus stops. All marijuana must also be grown 100 feet from a property line — although that stipulation may be waived if the grower can prove an “undue hardship.” Only Supervisor Charlie Willard, who has consistently opposed the measure, voted against the ordinance. Growers found in violation will be allowed to appeal to the Board of Supervisors, but if found out of compliance, could lose their growth and be charged for its destruction. Officials said the ordinance will be complaint driven by coun- ty residents. On a case-by-case basis law enforcement will then review if the grower is in compli- ance. Supervisor Gorge Russell referred to the policy as a compro- mise and said it was unlikely to affect the majority of medical marijuana growers, who have been the most vocal on the issue. “It’s obvious the majority of people who have spoken — favor medical marijuana,” he said. At Tuesday’s meeting, and dur- ing the first reading of the ordi- nance on March 16, there was roughly an equal amount of public participation speaking in favor for and against the ordinance. The ordinance was developed in consultation with law enforce- ment and has received the support of prominent members in county education. Proponents of the tightened regulations argue medical mari- juana trade can attract violent rob- beries. In January 2009, a Los Moli- nos man was shot and killed, allegedly over several pounds of marijuana. Quail Ridge resident Rick Ortega said he was not staunchly against marijuana use, but did sup- port the ordinance. “I’d rather have someone smoking dope than being on Oxy- contin any day,” he said. However Ortega said neighbor- hood medical marijuana growth has attracted a dangerous crowd See PASSED, page 7A The animal savior Violent parolees By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer When Karen Scheuermann was growing up, she wanted to be a veteri- narian. “All little girls want to grow up and be a vet, right?,” she said. Growing up in a time when women veterinarians were a rarity, life worked out a little differently for Scheuer- mann. Instead, she became a public health microbiologist for Humboldt County. “I was used to working with (ani- mals), but I wasn’t doing anything good with them,” she said. So, one day, in the 1970s, Scheuer- mann took a class on how to deal with an injured hawk, one that included force-feeding instructions. The birds are generally distrustful of humans, she said. Over the years that followed, Scheuermann took on volunteer jobs, each one building more on her animal knowledge. In Concord, she used to take the Lindsey Wildlife Museum’s display animals out for walks. “With the birds, you could actually take them out with a long rope and let them fly a little bit if they could fly, or just walk around,” she said. Now, as the mostly-sole volunteer of Tehama Wild Care, Scheuermann is all but the last, best hope for every- thing from coyotes to opossums, from falcons to rabbits. “You never know what’s going to walk in the door,” she said. Scheuermann’s recent guests have included a baby Western gray squirrel, a species that has all but disappeared in the rest of California, and a healing white-tailed kite hawk. She takes in injured animals found in the woods outside her Cottonwood residence and, calling on training she recieved as a Department of Fish and Game vol- unteer, does whatever she can. Altogether, she takes in between 60 and 70 animals a year, about 60 per- cent of which make it back out. Scheuermann’s caseload was almost twice that when she was com- mitted to raising baby songbirds, too, but that posed its own problems. Feed- ing an animal every 20 minutes can prove a strain, she said. Scheuermann keeps in contact with a number of collaborators, including Shasta Wildlife Rescue, and is happy to work with referral groups. She is working on training a collaborator, Sandie Freeman, to help her with high-risk mammals. Tehama Wild Care is unlikely to become more than a one- or two-per- son operation. Courtesy photo An orphaned grey squirrel, one of the many species for which Karen Scheuermann has cared. “I’m kind of a person that likes to do my own thing, anyway,” Scheuer- mann said. Still, she knows she cannot keep nursing the forest back to health forev- er. Someone to take over for her would be nice. Maybe someone in Red Bluff, she said. More information is available at shastarootsnshoots.com/Tehama_Wil d_Care.htm. ——— Geoff Johnson can be reached at 527-2153, extension 114 or gjohnson@redbluffdailynews.com. SACRAMENTO (AP) — More than 250 state prison inmates freed with- out supervised parole under a new California law were convicted of crimes considered violent or threatening, according to prison records obtained as part of an inquiry by state lawmakers. A handful are sex offenders. Gov. Arnold go unsupervised ‘‘These are Schwarzenegger and state corrections officials said the law, passed last year, was designed to improve public safety by concen- trating parole supervision on the most dangerous felons. Allowing those convicted of lesser offens- es to go unsupervised after their release would mean fewer people being sent back to prison for parole viola- tions, reducing the inmate population and saving the state money. multiple crimes that the public would be horrified to know the department considers nonserious or nonviolent.’’ — Assemblyman Ted Lieu, D-Torrance Corrections Secretary Matthew Cate and state lawmak- ers repeatedly said that only nonviolent offenders — most- ly those convicted of white collar, property and drug crimes — would be freed without monitoring. At the time the law took effect on Jan. 25, Cate promised it would not lead to dangerous felons being unsupervised after their release. ‘‘If you’re a serious offender, you’re ineligible. If you’re a violent offender, you’re ineligible. If you’re a sex offend- er, you’re ineligible. All that’s defined,’’ he said during a news conference the day the law took effect. The department’s own records paint a picture that con- flicts with Cate’s pledge, although most do not appear to violate the strict letter of the law. A corrections spokesman said the problem is with the law, not with the way the department has handled the releases. Of the 1,944 convicts left without supervision in the first five weeks after the law took effect Jan. 25, 96 were in jail for possessing weapons or explosives and 120 served time for stalking, domestic violence and child neglect, abduction or cruelty. A smaller number served time for more serious offenses, including sex crimes, false impris- onment, battery and involuntary manslaughter. See PAROLE, page 7A Local is key for Corning’s newest entrepreneur By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer A new business, Olive City Insurance Agency, opened its doors with a grand opening reception Tuesday afternoon at 1610 Solano St., Suite B, in Corning. “Basically, I’m hop- ing to bring to Corning options they haven’t pre- viously had,” said owner Amy White. “I’ve been licensed in the state of California for 13 years and any kind of insur- ance you can think of I Fly Shop Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Owner Amy White accepts a plant, Tuesday, from Corning Chamber Manager Valanne Cardenas. Red Bluff Outdoor Power 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 30%-40% 645 Antelope Blvd. #10 Red Bluff OFF 529-4799 have it. It’s what you call a full service agency.” Policies offered include health, dental, auto, RV, boaters, home owners, renter’s, com- mercial liability, bro- ker’s liability and even one-day special event and farm insurance. She also offers bonds and notary public service by appointment. For the past five years, White has worked for Feather River Insur- ance Agency in Oroville, during the past three she has been commuting from Corning. Married a year ago in March, she and her hus- band Tom chose to have her start Olive City Insurance, allowing her to work locally rather than commute, as a move toward keeping things local, she said. “We’re struggling like all the American fami- lies,” White said. “We live in Corning and we’re doing what all the American families are doing by trying to work See LOCAL, page 7A PHYSICIAN REFERRAL A FREE SERVICE PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE 1-800-990-9971 CHW North State Region