Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/122900
FRIDAY Students Visit Cattle Ranch APRIL 19, 2013 Denver Bound Education Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 6A SPORTS 1B DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Mostly sunny 81/52 Weather forecast 10A 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 By JULIE ZEEB Dog park plan comes together DN Staff Writer By RICH GREENE Vista Middle School began its Earth Day celebration early with a "Fear Factor" Smoothie Day hosted by the school's Garden Club. The event involved California State University, Chico's Center For Nutrition and Activity Promotion (CNAP) program and College Options. "Through a Walmart Distribution Center grant and in collaboration with CNAP and College Options we joined our efforts to highlight green careers and celebrate Earth Day," Vista Secretary and Garden Club Coordinator Joni Samay said. Students were invited to try out a blender that is powered by a bicycle brought by CNAP Health Education Specialist Alyson Wylie. The fruits of their labor was a spinach, kale and strawberry smoothie. "We're here to support Vista for its green smoothie day because at CNAP we're all about helping kids make healthy choices not just on earth day, but every day," Wylie said. "If it means dressing up like a blueberry, we would do it to encourage students to make healthy choices on Earth Day and every day." Students tasted from the campus garden and Garden Club members dressed up as fruits and vegetables. "The Vista leadership was doing a project for Earth Day so we decided to collaborate with them to spread the news of Earth Day and bring awareness to it," club member Mitchell Suave said. The leadership team is planning an energy conservation day for Monday, DN Staff Writer Vista digs Earth Day The Red Bluff Parks and Recreation Commission singled out Trainor Park as the best fit for a proposed dog park at its meeting Tuesday. Commissioners and members of the public said the next step is to present the conceptual idea to the City Council. The proposed location would utilize existing fencing at the park bordering the Vista School boundary. The park already has public restrooms and parking because of the softball fields at the location. Commissioner Bob Martin said he had spoken to See DOG, page 9A Pot trafficker gets more than 17 years in prison Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Vista Middle School students and Garden Club Members Leslie Soto, left, and Mitchell Suave, right, pose for a picture Thursday with Club Advisor Joni Samay during the club's Earth Day celebration. the actual Earth Day. They are trying to find ways to use less energy than they normally would, Leadership Vice President Beatrice Gutierrez said. They are asking to have teachers open classroom doors and windows instead of using the air conditioner, to turn computers off when not in use and to use half the lights they normally would in classrooms, she said. "It's important to take care of the Earth and eat healthy foods," Erica Downey said. "It's good to get out here and make a difference." Stacey Garrett of College Options asked the students if they knew what career they wanted See EARTH, page 9A SACRAMENTO – United States District Judge William Shubb sentenced Uriel OchoaEspindola, 44, of Fresno, on Monday, April 15, to 17 and a half years in prison for his part in a marijuana trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney Benjamin. Wagner announced. According to court documents, Espindola was the leader of a massive marijuana manufacturing operation and an interstate drug distribution ring. He and his partners grew tens-of-thousands of marijuana plants in three different counties in California and shipped their product across the country with the aid of commercial truckers. Espindola's operation was based near Delhi, Calif., but he controlled marijuana grows in El Dorado County, Tehama County, and Placer County. Espindola personally organized and directed hundreds of pounds of marijuana shipments to South Dakota, Colorado, Massachusetts, Washington, North Carolina. Espindola was in charge of 10 other men. He made key decisions, assigned jobs, and organized deals. In sentencing Espindola, Judge Shubb said that Espindola ran a "very serious operation," and indicated that Espindola's role as a leader had a significant impact on his sentencing decision. According to court documents, investigators seized three handguns and nearly 11,000 marijuana plants at the El Dorado County grow site. They seized nearly 17,500 marijuana plants at a grow site in Placer County, and nearly 2,000 marijuana plants at the grow site in Tehama County. The organization was large enough that it needed "middle-managers," such as Valentine Ramirez-Cardinez, who was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in prison for managing the grow sites. These middle See POT, page 9A Red Bluff Fire's Cowboy poet draws big crowd boot drive gets under way today By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Firefighters will be out from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the intersection of South Main Street and Luther Road for the Red Bluff Volunteer Fire Department's annual Boot Drive. The department has brought in about $91,000 since it has been collecting with about $3,100 raised in 2012, Capt. John Campbell said. "We're nearing the $100,000 mark," Captain Dom Catona said. "With the help of the community, we'd like to see how close we can get to the $100,000 mark to support fighting cancer. We know that cancer doesn't take a day off in the bad econ- 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 omy and neither do we. Now is a good time for spring cleaning. Be sure to check your couch cushions and the ashtray for extra change." Campbell said he is hopeful for another good year of support from the community for a worthwhile cause. Proceeds from the boot drive will be split between Relay for Life and the Red Bluff Volunteer Fire Department. For those who cannot make it out to the boot drive, donations can be dropped off at the fire station, 555 Washington St., or made online to the Red Bluff Volunteer Fire Department team at www.relayforlife.org/re dbluffca under the tab for teams. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynew s.com. Follow her on Twitter @DN_Zeeb. Cowboy Poet Baxter Black rolled into town Tuesday for a concert sponsored by the Tehama County CattleWomen held as one of several events during the 11 Days of Round-Up. Michelle Hickok of Red Bluff was one of several in line at the VIP event, held across the street at the International Order of Odd Fellows building beforehand, but she had a special connection. Hickok, a former Tehama County Beef Ambassador, had not only met Baxter Black before, she designed the posters for Tuesday's event. Hickok first met Black at the National Cattlemen's Beef Convention in Reno, Nev. while serving as a Beef Ambassador in 2008, she said. "There were about 5,000 people there and he saw us and called us out of the line (to meet him)," Hickok said. "When I showed him the photo we took there he remembered me. It was awesome." Somewhere between 100 and 125 people attended the pre-concert VIP Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Michelle Hickok gets a poster she designed for the Baxter Black concert signed on Tuesday at the VIP event held before the State Theatre show at the International Order of Odd Fellows building. event, Event Chairwoman Joyce Bundy said. "We're thrilled to death to have him come back," Bundy said. "I first met him when he was here two years ago and I think he's just great. He was a unanimous favorite to bring back to Red Bluff." Several local youth assisted in the event and Bundy said she could not have done it without them or the help of the CattleWomen's membership. Tehama County Beef Ambassadors helped sell merchandise and members of the Red Bluff, Corning and Los Molinos FFA helped people cross the streets, served as ushers and elsewhere, Bundy said.