Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/130400
WEDNESDAY Oatmeal Raisin Spartans Sweep Goodness MAY 15, 2013 County Fare Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 5A SPORTS 1B DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Mostly Sunny 83/60 Weather forecast 8B 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 Judge: Federal government negligent in Lassen death SACRAMENTO (AP) — The U.S. government was negligent in the death of a boy killed when a retaining wall crushed him at a national park in Northern California, a federal judge has ruled. The decision by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley of Sacra- mento upheld the earlier findings of a magistrate, who had determined that officials at Lassen Volcanic National Park intentionally demolished the remaining portions of the retaining wall before investigators could examine it. As punishment, the magis- trate recommended that Nunley formally find the park service negligent, which he did in an order issued on Monday. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the family of 9-year-old Tommy Botell. He and his sister were hiking a trail ascending 2,000-foot Lassen Peak on July 29, 2009, and sat down to take photographs atop a rock and mortar retaining wall. The family says the wall crumbled, and a boulder weighing at least 400 pounds crushed the boy and others injured his sister, who is identified in the suit only by initials. ''It is established for all purposes in this case, that defendant is deemed to have been negligent in causing the death of Tommy Botell and injury to plaintiff K.B.,'' Nunley wrote. Tommy's siblings and his See JUDGE, page 7A Two arrested in death of infant Special day The Tehama County District Attorney's office has charged a mother and her fiance with child abuse resulting in the death of an infant relating to the Sept. 26, 2012 death of a 13-month-old child. Isabelle Deanna Rios, 19, and Daniel Walter Llamas Jr., 20, were arrested Friday, May 10, after an autopsy report on the child indicated death caused by blunt force trauma to the child's abdomen, which was not natural and associated with abuse. The infant was brought to St. Elizabeth Community Hospital around 6 p.m. Sept. 26, 2012, by the suspects and was not breathing at the time. Hospital staff initiated CPR in an attempt to revive the infant, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterward. See INFANT, page 7A Group plans cleanup of slough Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Red Bluff Union High School Sophomore P.J. Mackintosh, right, grabs the baton and takes off in the 100 meter relay race Tuesday at the 2013 Special Olympics held at Red Bluff High School. By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer A cool breeze made for perfect weather Tuesday for the 2013 Special Olympics at Red Bluff High School, where 300 participants, athletes and preschoolers on a field trip gathered for the event. The Olympic torch was carried at the opening ceremonies by Red Bluff High School senior Thomas Fanning and his teacher Sherry Drake. Grand Marshals of the parade included some of Tehama County's own with three couples who serve as Special Olympics coaches leading the group around the track — Ken and Debbie Hess, Chris and Amy Travis and Billy and Julia Rickett who coach basketball and softball teams. Debbie Hess, the area director for Special Olympics, and her husband, Ken, started the two sports in 2008 with 17 athletes and now are up to 43, she said. The couples also all donate Brown budget sends extra $2.9 billion to education SACRAMENTO (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday proposed a revised budget that would send an extra $2.9 billion to California schools this year, including $1 billion in one-time funding to help districts implement more rigorous academic standards. The budget maintains his proposal to shift additional money to schools with higher numbers of Englishlearners and students from low-income households, a plan that has generated criticism even from lawmakers in his own party. A surge in personal income taxes generated partly from Proposition 30, the ballot initiative voters approved at Brown's urging last November, means the state's funding guarantee for schools will climb for the current school year. ''We've got more money 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 because the people voted for it, and most of that money is going to the schools that need it very much,'' the Democratic governor said during a Capitol news conference. The amount of money owed to schools from state and local governments is projected to fall by $941 million during the 2013-14 fiscal year before it rebounds in future years. Despite criticism from Democrats in the state Legislature, Brown's revised budget maintains his proposal to overhaul education financing by providing more money for lowincome schools and giving districts more control over spending money from the state. His proposal boosts the amount available for the local-control funding formula to $1.9 billion in an effort to appease critics from wealthier districts that stand to gain less under his plan. The budget also includes See BUDGET, page 7A through United Way with PG&E to Special Olympics, said Debbie Hess. "My mom, Sharon Buechler, was the Special Olympics area director for years and she had a real love for this," Hess said. "When she passed away, I took over as director. I wasn't going to let it just go away. It's grown four-fold from when I took it over in 2008. This is an event that takes five months to plan." The event is a coordinated comSee SPECIAL, page 7A On Saturday, May 18th, Members of a concerned residents group called Tehama Action Team, along with other local people and businesses, will join efforts Saturday, May 18, in cleaning up debris and trash under and around the Antelope Bridge that spans the former Lake Red Bluff on Highway 36. Tehama Action Team was formed by concerned residents in response to the increased crime and blight of the greater Red Bluff area. Since the recent courtordered removal of the diversion dam that created Lake Red Bluff, the now dry waterway has become a popular homeless encampment, a hidden area for drug use and dealing, and also a handy catch-all for motorists and pedestrians disposing of trash over the bridge. Businesses have also taken to dumping landscaping debris into the area. It has become an eyesore which has annoyed residents and surrounding businesses and also presents environmental hazards to the land, and potentially a pollution source to the Sacramento River if the area floods and washes refuse and human waste into the river. TAT has been in contact with several of the people living under the bridge, as well as local programs that assist them. Most of those residents have been cooperative in helping keep trash picked up around their camps, but those who are methaddicted have a tendency to collect items and then See SLOUGH, page 7A Peace Officers Memorial set tonight By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Proclamations have gone out to cities and counties making May 15 Tehama County Peace Officers' Memorial Day and this year's event will include a tribute to the woman who started the event. At the ceremony, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bethel Assembly of God, 625 Luther Road, in Red Bluff, there will be a tribute to Jean Wagoner who started the event as a candlelight vigil at the Tehama County Superior Courthouse, said Association President Mark Fritz at the April 23 Corning City Council meeting while See PEACE, page 7A GROWNEY MOTORS We Buy Used Cars paid for or not 1160 Main St. 527-1034 Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Members of the Red Bluff Police Honor Guard stand at rest during the 2012 Tehama County Peace Officers Memorial Service. The 2013 event is at 7 tonight at Bethel Assembly of God, 625 Luther Road. PHYSICIAN REFERRAL Smog Inspection $ 2595 +$825 certificate (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) • Member Discount 530 527-9841 195 S. Main St., Red Bluff A FREE SERVICE PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE 1-888-628-1948