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MONDAY MAY 24, 2010 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See 7A RED BLUFF SPORTS 1B clouds later 66/48 Increasing Weather forecast 8B 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 Take Two Hemp permit decision could come Tuesday By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer Planning Director George Robson is expected to issue a decision on the pending World Hemp Expo Extravaganja 2010 by Tuesday. Planner II Bob Halpin said Robson has scheduled a meet- ing for Monday with the heads of key county departments, who were asked to turn in an assessment of the hemp festi- val by Friday, including potential traffic or law enforcement problems, and how festival organizers might offset them in exchange for a festival permit. Organizer Donna Will, a medical marijuana patient who has advocated against the county’s recently implemented medical marijuana regulations, has said she is determined to hold her three-day festival over Memorial Day weekend on Riverside Avenue whether the county issues her a permit or not. At one time threatening a “peaceful protest” if the coun- ty denies her permit, Will recently said would get around the permit, which kicks in at 500 people or more, by holding smaller, simultaneous festivals capped at 499 people each — a strategy some officials said would still be in violation of the ordinance. per day. Her initial estimates put attendance around 1,800 people, The lack of a permit has not stopped Will from advertis- ing her event at whee2010.com, preparing parking spaces for 1,000 cars or booking bands and vendors. She has also enlisted the backing of Steve Hager, Creative Director for High Times magazine, who founded the origi- nal World Hemp Expo Extravaganja. Shutting down the festival would be impractical, Under- Daily News photo by Rich Greene Danisha Slay (#8) is greeted by teammates following her game-winning RBI single, Saturday. Slay’s RBI single in extra innings gives Lady Spartans back-to-back championships By RICHGREENE DN Sports Editor It took two runs, a spectacular double play and a pair of rare umpire calls for a Lady Spartans team with just two seniors to capture back-to-back Northern Section Division II softball championships. With two outs, two strikes and the bases loaded in the bot- tom of the eighth inning Danisha Slay blooped a single into shallow left center scoring Megan McColpin and the Spar- tans completed a 2-1 extra inning comeback against Chico in Saturday’s championship game. The Spartans had sent up the top of their batting order in the eighth inning, but it was their No. 6 hitter, Slay — who had been pinch-hit for mid-at bat an inning earlier — that ended up playing hero. “When i went in (to the batter’s box) my hands were shaking.,” Slay said. “I was like ok, it’s all up to me now. I knew when I was going in either I was hitting or we were going another inning.” Red Bluff had battled back from a 1-0 deficit in an unlike- ly fashion. Last year’s championship game hero, Emily McEnaney, has routinely put fear into opposing pitchers and coaches, but it was Chico’s catcher who got rattled, Saturday. McEnaney came to the plate with two outs and a runner on second base in the bottom of the fifth inning with the Spartans trailing by a run. In the same scenario two innings earlier the Panthers had Baseball team falls short in sectional final, see Sports 1B pitched around McEnaney feeding her nothing but balls out- side of the strike zone. The Panthers took the same approach in the fifth inning, but on the 2-0 pitch, the home plate umpire called an illegal pitch, because Chico’s catcher Bre- anda Sloan had set-up outside the catcher’s box. That call allowed Jerilynn Purcell to advance to third base. On the ensuing 3-0 pitch the umpire made the illegal pitch call a second time and Purcell was awarded home. The Spartan senior leaped onto home plate as she tied the game 1-1. Red Bluff had thought it tied the game in the fourth inning. With Haley Harris on third base and Bryce Etzler on first the Spartans tried a double steal. The Chico infield cut off Sloan’s throw and threw it back home as Harris appeared to slide under the tag, but the umpire called her out. Chico got its one-run lead with a two-out rally in the third inning. Marissa Weeber hit a fly ball that died suddenly in the wind and fell in front of Slay in shallow right field. Jo Koons then doubled home Weeber to put Chico up 1-0. Weeber and Koons each had three hits on the day, but they were the only Panthers who got hits off of Spartans See TWO, page 7A sheriff Dennis Garton said Saturday. Jailing everyone who shows up would be impossible, so the police strategy is like- ly to emphasize protecting the surrounding neighborhood. Sheriff Clay Parker, meanwhile, has scaled back his ini- tial recommendation for 24-hour-a-day law enforcement presence at the event, asking instead for a 10-hour-a-day presence. Will had announced her intentions months in advance, making repeated announcements at Board of Supervisors meetings. But when talks with the Tehama District Fairground fell through and she opted to hold her event on Riverside Avenue, she stumbled across a 1970 festival ordinance the county could have used to deny her a permit, but one officials said could be considered unconstitutional by modern stan- dards. An updated ordinance, which bars officials from stopping an event based on its message alone, was passed by the board in April, and a requirement which would have set the festival back by 90 days was waived. Police pepper spray 29- year-old Red Bluff man A Red Bluff police officer was forced to use pepper spray and an impact weapon on a 29-year-old Red Bluff man, Fri- day according to a department press release. The Red Bluff Police Department was called to the Crys- tal Apartment on Main Street to assist two Child Protective Service caseworkers who were conducting an investigation. When officers arrived they met William Hawthorne out- side of his apartment. An officer was beginning his investi- gation when Hawthorne tried to re-enter his home, refusing instructions to remain outside of his apartment according to the department press release. Hawthorne then entered his apartment and tried to close the door on the officer. The offi- cer told Hawthorne he was under arrest and again Hawthorne refused to comply with the officer’s instructions. That’s when an officer used pepper spray and an impact weapon to affect the arrest, according to the release. Hawthorne was cleared with minor injuries and booked into Tehama County Jail for obstructing, resisting or delay- ing a peace officer. — Staff Report Los Molinos loses town’s beloved patriotic resident By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer LOS MOLINOS — No one looked forward to the Fourth of July parade as much as Steve “Stevie” Honeycutt. So it was fitting when it took a parade-sized turnout for the community of Los Molinos to say goodbye. Honeycutt passed away May 14. Doctors think his death may have been trig- gered by a drop in potassi- um levels, his caretaker Barbara Russell said. “The doctor said it could happen anytime,” Russell said. “It’s not something you can predict.” A public memorial ser- vice was quickly scheduled in Los Molinos for May 17. Witnesses put the crowd at 130 to 150 people — big enough to count for one in every 15 Los Molinos resi- dents. The 42-year-old was known throughout Los Molinos, where he marched in the Fourth of July Parade every year since he moved to the com- munity in 1993. Armed with only an American flag, a blaring boom box, and the saying “I love my freedom,” Hon- eycutt won seven trophies over the years, including first, second and third place. “He practiced 364 days a year,” Chamber of Com- merce President Betty Morales said. 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 His trophy-winning tools were his trademark in everyday life. He carried both he flag and his music as he traversed about town, often accompanied by upbeat tunes. “His favorite was disco, and he liked songs that would say ‘gonna love you forever,’ ” Russell said. Once shy, Honeycutt overcame his fears in the community of Los Moli- nos. He lived a relatively independent life, holding down a job at North Valley Services and establishing himself as a town regular. “He made all his own contacts, he had all his own relationships,” Russell said. Though he never drank or gambled, Honeycutt was a regular at the Rolling Hills Casino on weekends, where he would mingle with his friends. The local bartenders knew him well. “I was looking at every- body that signed in the (guestbook), and one just said ‘All the Bartenders in the Hayloft,’ because he’d just stop in and say ‘hi,’” said County Supervisor Ron Warner, who lives in the neighboring communi- ty of Tehama and attended the funeral. Whatever closure Hon- eycutt’s funeral may have provided, it will take some time for the community to heal. Even Russell’s canine, a pointy-eared dog with black “Batman”-style ears, still waits at the door for Honeycutt, whose daily routine included treats and a walk with her. “She’s still watching for him,” Russell said. “It’s sad.” But a part of Honeycutt may stay in the parade, and not just in the hearts of Los Molinos residents. He had been planning a run for the title of “Mayor,” an honorary position given out to whoever raises the most money for Fourth of July festivities. Instead, the community is pooling its resources to make a float for him this year, and the Chamber of Commerce is considering naming an award after him, Morales Dutch oven Division champions Courtesy photo Steve Honeycutt passed away May 14. said. “He was one of our most beloved gentlemen in Los Molinos,” she said. “He had enthusiasm, and dedication, and spirit.”