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FRIDAY Bittersweet Goodbyes JANUARY 11, 2013 Athletes of the Week Education Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 4A SPORTS 1B DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Mostly Sunny 50/31 TEHAMA COUNTY DAILY 50¢ T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Weather forecast 8A County to get to the bottom of Antelope wells By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer Tehama County Chief Administrator Bill Goodwin announced Tuesday the county, in conjunction with the city of Red Bluff, is in the process of scheduling a community meeting to address the issue of drying wells in the Antelope area. Water officials expected well levels to begin dropping off after the Red Bluff Diversion Dam's gates were permanently raised in 2011, but a dry winter in 2012 exacerbated the issue. "There's several things going on, all at once," Water Resources Engineer Seth Lawrence said. Lawrence, who works for the California Department of Water Resources Northern Region Office, said the department anticipated levels returning to where they were before the dam was built in the early 1960s. 'Historically, domestic (users) keep costs down. (They) find good water and stop drilling' — Seth Lawrence, engineer However they did not expect the decline to happen as rapidly as it did in 2012. Several monitored wells showed levels dropped off as much as 7 feet in one year. Championship day While there hasn't been an overall increase in the amount of zoned agriculture in the area, the type being done is stressing levels as new orchards are put into place. "Young trees take more water than perhaps alfalfa does," Lawrence said. Another problem Lawrence has seen is the depth and age of residential wells trying to See WELLS, page 7A Corning ups waste charges By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer CORNING — The City Council approved an increase in the service rate for Waste Management, operated as Corning Disposal, at Tuesday's meeting. The increase, which is calculated using the Consumer Price Index and Fuel Cost adjustments, will total 1.96 percent. The new prices goes up 41 cents to $21.17 for residential rates and 21 cents to $10.59 for seniors. It goes See WASTE, page 7A Despite flap, LaMalfa names Spannagel as his chief of staff By LARRY MITCHELL MediaNews Group Daily News photo by Andre Byik Tom, Morgan and Patty McGuinness, from left to right, of Los Molinos, smile with the 2010 and 2012 San Francisco Giants World Series trophies Thursday at the Red Bluff Community and Senior Center. World Series trophies stop in Red Bluff By ANDRE BYIK DN Sports Editor There's something sweet about prevailing after a struggle. That's what the sentiment was Thursday at the Red Bluff Community and Senior Center, where hun- dreds of San Francisco Giants fans queued for hours to get a chance to pose with the 2010 and 2012 World Series trophies. It was the first time Major League Baseball's most coveted prize was presented in Red Bluff, and longtime Tehama County Giants fans didn't miss out on the opportunity to get an up-close look at the reflective spires. Diehard Giants fan Chris Lonsberry, 27, had a good spot near the front of the line after arriving three hours early for the 4-6 p.m. event. Decked out in orange and black Giants gear and inked with an "SF" logo on his left wrist, Lonsberry said he didn't sleep well the night before because of his anticipation. "I'm just super stoked to see it," Lonsberry said. "Get as many pictures as I can walking up to it, with it, smell it maybe, I know I can't touch it." Lonsberry admitted that when the Giants fell behind the Cincinnati Reds in the 2012 National See TROPHIES, page 7A WASHINGTON — "Lessons have been learned," Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, said in relation to Mark Spannagel, his newly appointed chief of staff. LaMalfa was in Chico Wednesday, and he stopped by the EnterpriseRecord, where he was interviewed about the appointment. Did he have qualms about choosing Spannagel, who was the center of a controversy during the congressional primary election campaign? "I had expectations," LaMalfa replied. He explained Spannagel was very remorseful, and he said he was sure nothing like the incident would happen again. During the primary race, an Internet website appeared that was purportedly sponsored by a fictitious group called "Freethinkers for Dacquisto." Michael Dacquisto of Redding was one of LaMalfa's opponents in the primary race. So was former state Sen. Sam Aanestad of Grass Valley. The website attacked Aanestad, displaying unflattering pictures of him and making false statements about him, such as claims he was "only a dentist" and "not really a doctor." In fact, Aanestad is trained and licensed as an oral surgeon. Aanestad investigated and said he found the website had been paid for by Spannagel, who was LaMalfa's Senate chief of staff and one of his campaign consultants. Dacquisto said he had See FLAP, page 7A Spay/neuter Jim Nielsen sworn-in as state senator clinic returning By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer A three-day spay/neuter clinic is coming to Tehama County, after a few years' absence, thanks to Providing Essentials for Tehama Shelter (PETS) and the Tehama County Animal Care Center. The two entities are bringing Peninsula Humane Society in Feb. 8-10 to host a rotating clinic for low-income pet owners, Care Center Manager Mark Storrey said. "I have been working with Peninsula Humane since I started and they have done these clinics in the past, but not since 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 2009," Storrey said. "They are a fantastic organization that does so much great work in the Bay Area and to have them come to Tehama County and help us is really exciting." The clinic will be in Los Molinos on Friday, Feb. 8, Rancho Tehama on Saturday, Feb. 9, and the Red Bluff Animal Care Center on Sunday, Feb. 10. "The spay/neuter clinic will target low-income citizens and allow them to have a cat or dog neutered at no cost," Storrey said. "We are absolutely thrilled to have Peninsula Humane here providing this service to our community. This will give some of our residents, who would not otherwise See SPAY, page 7A Special to the DN Surrounded by family and friends, former Assemblyman Jim Nielsen was sworn into office Thursday to represent the 4th Senate District. The swearing-in ceremony took place in the Senate Chambers at the State Capitol, with the oath of office administered by longtime friend Associate Justice George Nicholson, 3rd District Court of Appeals. "It is a great honor and privilege to serve again," Nielsen (R-Gerber) said. "Serving the citizens of the North State has been and continues to be my priority. I will carry on my work to push for a state government that serves the people rather than itself and a business friendly economy. Too many willing and able Californians are still unemployed." Nielsen, who authored Courtesy photo Jim Nielsen is sworn-in Thursday as State Senator. Pictured here with his wife Marilyn holding a family bible. Marsy's Law and was coauthor of California's Crime Victims' Bill of Rights, vowed to continue his fight to change the recently passed prison realignment law – Assembly Bill 109 – which has put many dangerous criminals back on the streets. See NIELSEN, page 7A