Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/10696
WEDNESDAY MAY 19, 2010 Breaking news at: From Ring to Corner Avery Vilche www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 3A RED BLUFF Finals Bound SPORTS 1B Mostly cloudy 71/48 Weather forecast 8B Monsters to roll in fall event By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer While there the May mon- ster truck show has been can- celed, it was announced at Tuesday’s Tehama District Fair Board that a contract for the October West Coast Mon- ster Truck Nationals is in the works. Board President Bob Ker- stiens said the deposit on the show, put on by promoter Joe Froome of J&K Motorsports, will be lowered as a result of his good standing with the fairground. After much discussion, the board voted 5-2 with two directors absent, to refund Feld Inc. representative Dave Matthews the $20,000 deposit for the canceled May show, minus legal fees. No votes were Bev Ross and Don Crain while those absent were Ray Bianchi and Tonya Redamonti. The cost of legal fees incurred by seeking advice on what to do with the deposit won’t be known until July, said Fair CEO Mark Eidman. Froome, at Tuesday’s meet- ing, recommended the board consider keeping the deposit toward a spring show in 2011 so that everyone wins. “It’s my personal feeling that we lick our wounds, give the refund and go on,” Ker- stiens said. While Matthews was not present, Eidman read his letter to the board in which he asked them to consider keeping the deposit toward a show in 2011. “Please pass on my sincere apologies to the members of your Board of Directors for my ‘failure to appear,’” Matthews said. “ ... If there’s a major theme I’d like the board to glean from this e-mail, it is See MONSTERS, page 7A DAILYNEWS Divide and conquer? 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 Suspect arrested in rape ANDERSON — Tehama County deputies Saturday arrested a man reportedly responsible for raping a woman after dating her for three months. Rodney Franklin French, 28, Anderson, was arrested on suspicion of raping, kidnap- ping, issuing criminal threats and imprisoning the woman, according to a TCSD release. At the time of his arrest, French was in a trailer behind a family member’s residence. See RAPE, page 7A Daily News photo by Geoff Johnson Whole Earth Expo Extravaganja 2010 volunteers roll out a 3,000-gallon water tank Tuesday in preparation for the Memorial Day weekend event. By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer Tehama County may have to choose between one hemp festival — or six. On Tuesday, Donna Will, the woman behind World Hemp Expo Extravaganja 2010, said if the county denies her a festival permit, she will hold as many six simultaneous events on neighboring parcels, each capped at 499 people to get around county regulations of events of 500 or more. Will previously said she expects about 1,800 peo- ple over the three-days Memorial Day weekend at the Riverside Avenue site, just south of Red Bluff. The county’s festival permit, which will be issued or denied by Planning Director George Robson, only kicks in for events with 500 people or more. If Will kept 499 people or fewer on each proper- ty, WHEE 2010 could technically be exempt from the permit, Planner II Bob Halpin said. County Counsel Arthur Wylene said he could not comment on the specifics of Will’s strategy. But speaking in general, when “transparently artificial means” are used to circumvent a law, the law usually still applies, Wylene said. Young authors in the spotlight By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer Along with the praises they were already receiv- ing, aspiring young writ- ers got a look at what their lives could be like from visiting author Peter Lerangis during the Tehama County Writing Contest Celebration Mon- day. Students were recog- nized for participating and golden lines, excerpts judges thought were espe- cially well-crafted, were read by each writer. County Superintendent of Schools Larry Champi- on encouraged students to focus on communication skills in his opening speech. “Reading, writing, lis- tening and speaking are critical skills for your future success,” Champi- on said. “These skills will enhance your personal life and help to develop your professional life.” Lerangis, urged the young writers to keep Perfect 12s Poetry: Madeline Flynn- Sacred Heart School Erika Ellis-Vista Mid- dle School Amanda Cahalan-Lin- coln Street School Expository: Nate Penner-Reeds Creek School Erik Tharaldsen-Lin- coln Street School Stephanie Melgoza- Lincoln Street School Narrative: Bryan Morrison-Vista Middle School Mariah Torres-Sacred Heart School Cori Longchamp-Lin- coln Street School Natalie Brown-Sacred Heart School Caleb Duncan-Los Molinos Elementary School Eva Flynn-Sacred Heart School writing and sharing their work. Story ideas can be found everywhere by always thinking what if, he said. As a writer, Lerangis See YOUNG, page 7A 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Red Bluff Outdoor Power Sheriff Clay Parker, one of the department heads Robson asked to weigh in before Robson makes his choice, said he would still consider separate, simul- taneous events run by Will as one festival. Parker said he had contacted Will Friday to dis- cuss the festival. He backed off from his earlier request for a 24- hour law enforcement presence for the three-day event, which will allow camping, and instead said he was looking for a 10-hour-a-day presence with reg- ular communication between the department and the event’s private security. If Will runs an event with 499 people or fewer, “my hands are tied,” he said. But if she runs anything larger, the department may shut down the event. “I hope it doesn’t come down to that,” Parker said. “I hope they continue to work with us.” Parker and other department heads have until Fri- day to issue their recommendations to the Planning Department. ——— Geoff Johnson can be reached at 527-2153, extension 114 or gjohnson@redbluffdailynews.com. County waits on fees By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer Greater fees could apply to future Tehama County devel- opment, but are likely to be scaled back from the figures used for a nexus study. The figures used in the study, made public this week, are based on Red Bluff reach- ing its maximum potential buildout over the next 30 years and are not realistic, Planning Director George Robson told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday. Robson has previously said the maximum buildout, set at 417,000 people, was a legal requirement of the General Plan that is used as a baseline, but is not in itself practical. Recent net growth in the county has been close to zero, See FEES, page 7A Ready to rock Vista with spring set By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer A mix of greatest hits will be performed by stu- dents from the Red Bluff Elementary School Dis- trict Thursday. The district’s annual Spring Concert will fea- ture music from Journey, “The Incredibles,” Wars” and more. Eighth-grader River Mist, who has been play- ing the piano since he was four, said the concert will be fun, but he his most appreciative of the opportunity to perform. “This is one of the more exciting concerts because it’s got rock music,” he said. “I can express myself more, so it will be fun.” Se v enth-grader Andrew Harms plays the electric bass and said he is most stoked the band will get to play a song from “The Incredibles.” It is a song that everyone really wanted to play and they all like. Harms said the songs are a good selection and credits music teacher Ryan Heimlich for allowing the students to pick music they like. Heimlich’s goal is to expose the students to all genres of music, he said. He has a collection of “Star Daily News photo by Tang Lor Vista Middle School students River Mist, Andrew Harms and Elijah Scharaga put out the beats to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” during a recent rehearsal for the Spring Concert. everything from classical to show tunes and pop, some of which will be performed during the concert. “It’s going to be a good concert with fun music to listen to,” Heimlich said. “And it’s great for all ages.” Bands from the dis- trict’s three elementary See VISTA, page 7A PHYSICIAN REFERRAL A FREE SERVICE PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE 1-800-990-9971 CHW North State Region