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Friday, June 7, 2013 – Daily News Death Notices Death notices must be provided by mortuaries to the news department, are published at no charge, and feature only specific basic information about the deceased. Paid obituaries are placed through the Classified advertising department. Paid obituaries may be placed by mortuaries or by families of the deceased and include online publication linked to the newspaper's website. Paid obituaries may be of any length, may run multiple days and offer wide latitude of content, including photos. Elvin E. LaFrentz Elvin E. LaFrentz, of Red Bluff, died Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at Red Bluff Healthcare. He was 62. Hall Brothers Corning Mortuary is handling the arrangements. Published Friday, June 7, 2013, in the Daily News, Red Bluff, Calif. PLAN Continued from page 1A become insured as the Affordable Care Act becomes federal law. However county officials across the state want the governor to wait until ACA becomes law before determining how much of a cost savings individual counties will see. Tehama County Health Services Agency Execu- GRADS (Continued from page 1A) High have spent hours creating the next artists, scientists or business persons, she said. "Trials and tribulations are not what decide your fate," Brose said. It is whether a person decides to fall under or rise above that will be the determining factor, she said. The third thing is support in the form of family, friends and the community. "This little town has done everything to help you succeed," Brose said. "This has been a tough year for the high school and the community. We've seen the evils of the world and tragedy." It is through those events that the group learned how much it needed each other and became a family, a group she is honored to be a part of, she said. "This has been a special class," Brose said. "God Bless. I hope to see you at the next end of the hallway." California Scholarship Federation Advisers Geoff Barrow and Kim Clawson gave a brief history on the program, which started in 1916 and has been at Red Bluff High since 1923. There were 25 CSF sealbearers in the class of 2013. Red Bluff High FFA President Sarah Brown was the other keynote speaker. Brown talked about her experience at a state level FFA convention where she lost as one of her defining moments. Upon returning from tive Director Valerie Lucero said the governor's numbers have no basis in reality. Williams and Chief Administrator Bill Goodwin said the California State Association of Counties is increasing its staff in opposition to the governor's proposal. Rich Greene can be reached at 527-2151, ext. 109 or rgreene@redbluffdailyne ws.com. the competition, she was met by a freshman who after finding out she lost went on to ask her if she had fun and how he could get involved the next year. It was through this event where she made a connection with another high school student that she saw her perception of the event change. "We all have defining moments," Brown said. "Mine was the FFA contest. For some it was the Tehama Shootout where we destroyed Corning with a 35-0 win. For others it was a teacher or classmate or sixth period Schwab state." In that defining moment, there is a chance to learn a lesson, she said. "Perception changed reality and I saw the loss as a great learning," Brown said. If students remember nothing else, she wants them to remember that they have the power to change their reality by changing their perspective and through that, they can change the world, Brown said. Principal Patrick Gleason who will step back into the classroom at the end of the year ended with advice for the class: Seek out mentors and tap into their wisdom; Find true friendships and cultivate them and lastly to find a balance between being cautious and being careless. The evening ended with a farewell speech by Rachel Ward. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @DN_Zeeb. Board approves Calif. highspeed rail construction SACRAMENTO (AP) — The board that oversees California's High-Speed Rail Authority on Thursday unanimously approved a nearly $1 billion contract to start construction on the first leg of the $68 billion bullet train in the Central Valley, clearing the way for work to start as soon as this summer on what officials have said will be a tight construction timeline. The bid from a California-based joint venture was the cheapest out of five received by the state to begin work on the first 30-mile section from Madera to Fresno. But it also had the lowest technical rating for safety and design, drawing public scrutiny and prompting more than an hour of questions to the high-speed rail authority staff from board members. The board ultimately voted 6-0 to approve the $985.1 million bid. TEMPS Continued from page 1A On Monday the high temperature is forecasted to drop down to a more typical 92 degrees. The National Weather Service is recommending, if possible, people complete their outdoor activities in the morning over the weekend. Care should be taken to ensure that sensitive groups, including the elderly and small children, limit their exposure to the heat. Pets should be kept inside and special care should be given to keep livestock cool and hydrated. Pets and livestock are susceptible to death at the extreme temperatures expected. PG&E offers tips to keep your home or building cooler: • Set your air conditioner thermostat to 78 degrees or higher when you're at home, health permitting, and 85 degrees when you're away. • Setting your AC thermostat 5 degrees higher will save about 10 percent on cooling costs. • Shut windows and draw the shades to keep in pre-cooled air from the night and early morning. • Have your central cooling duct system checked for leaks. Up to 20 percent of cooled air can be lost through leaky or poorly insulated ducts. • Buy an Energy Star air conditioner if your air conditioner is ready to be SENIORS Continued from page 1A opposite of failure," said principal Andrea Nilsen, who has headed the school for 13 years. "Success is choosing to try again and again until you succeed." As Centennial High School graduate and valedictorian Kearston Nunes said in a speech: "These past four years haven't been easy for me. Between switching schools, getting bad grades and not fitting in — I did not think I would be standing here in this cap and gown today. But it all started to change when I came to Centennial." In another address, graduate Alejandra Valencia said: "I came to Centennial from Corning High School towards the end of my replaced. It can reduce energy usage by up to 10 percent. • Avoid using an electric oven on hot days. Instead, cook on the stove, use a microwave oven, or grill outside. Tips for powering electronics, lighting and appliances: • Swap out incandescent bulbs with more energyefficient lighting choices. Energy Star-qualified lighting not only uses less energy, it also produces about 75 percent less heat than incandescent lighting, so cooling bills will be reduced, too. • Give your refrigerator breathing room: Clean the coils and don't set the temperature too low. The refrigerator should be kept between 38 degrees and 42 degrees, and the freezer senior year. I remember my first day and I was scared from what I heard about it. My first day was not what I expected. People were nice." There's a stereotype that alternative education is for "losers," Nilsen said after the ceremony. "That isn't so," she said, adding that some students require a different high school experience. Before the ceremony, graduate Geraldine Silvis said she'll miss the relationships she made at the high school. Silvis said she plans to attend Butte College, where she'll complete general education requirements. Another graduate, Alejandro Marin, said he enjoys the outdoors, and plans to study agriculture or horticulture at Humboldt State or Shasta College. "This has been the most reward- 9A between 0 degrees and 5 degrees. • Clean the lint from the clothes dryer after every load. Run full loads and use the moisture-sensing setting. This will help save 5 percent on your electric bill. • Turn off equipment and appliances — such as lights, televisions, stereos, DVD players and computers — when you're not using them. • Use appliances and charge electronic devices in the morning or after 7 p.m. To learn more, visit http://www.pge.com/about /company/privacy/customer/. Rich Greene can be reached at 527-2151, ext. 109 or rgreene@redbluffdailyne ws.com. ing job of my life," Nilsen said As for advice for the class of 2013? "Life is all about choices. Your future is all about the choices you make the people you associate with," she said, adding, "Be passionate about something." The Centennial High School Class of 2013 is: Jonathan Ables, Barbara Cardenas, Norma Castro, Belinda Cebada, Jose Chavez, Matthew Hayes, Alejandro Marin, Kassandra Martinez, Luis Monroy, Andrea Ogiba, Kearston Nunes, Carlos Ramirez, Luis Rico, Josue Ruiz, Geraldine Silvis, Monica Tejeda, Alejandra Valencia, Salvador Virgen and Jordan Windus. The Corning High School Independent Study Class of 2013 is: Chelain Braby, Teresa Erickson, Adam Gasler, Citlialli Jara-Hinojasa, Josefina Preciado and Bryon Ruppel. FBI started asking about Calif. lawmaker years ago LOS ANGELES (AP) — The FBI started seeking information about the business and political dealings of state Sen. Ron Calderon and his brother Tom, a former state assemblyman, as long ago as 2005 though the investigation only came to light this week when agents raided Ron Calderon's offices in Sacramento. Three people who have spoken multiple times with the FBI told The Associated Press on Thursday that agents initially were interested in virtually anything involving the brothers but more recently narrowed their questions to issues surrounding the Central Basin Municipal Water District, which paid Tom $11,000 per month as a consultant. Agents also wanted to know about Ron's involvement in legislation affecting the district. The three include a current and former elected official in Los Angeles County, and a man who runs a local watchdog website under the pseudonym Pedro Paramo. All spoke on condition of anonymity because of concern the FBI would be upset by public comments about an ongoing investigation. The FBI hasn't disclosed any details on the investigation, which burst into the public realm late Tuesday when agents executed search warrants at Ron Calderon's two offices. The search warrants are sealed so it's unclear what authorities were after. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, hasn't commented on the investigation. His attorney, Mark Geragos, has denied any wrongdoing by his client. Tom Calderon's attor- ney, Shepard Kopp, revealed that the FBI attempted to contact his client on Tuesday, the day of the raid. He couldn't provide details and denies any wrongdoing by his client. Joseph Legaspi, a spokesman for Central Basin, said the district hasn't been contacted by the FBI and will cooperate if agents want information. Calderon is part of a powerful Southern California political dynasty, along with his two brothers, Tom and Charles. Both brothers served in the state Legislature, and his nephew, Ian Calderon, was elected to the Assembly last year. Calderon has been considering running for state controller next year after he is termed out of the state Senate. He has built a reputation as a moderate, businessfriendly Democrat — one with an appetite for extravagant campaign fundraising events and gifts. Since 2000, he has accepted about $40,000 worth of gifts from lobbyists, more than twice as much as any other lawmaker during that period, according to a tally by The Sacramento Bee. The Central Basin Municipal Water District is a public agency that purchases water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and then wholesales it to cities, water companies, utilities and private companies in southeast Los Angeles County. More recent discussions with FBI agents over the last year involved questions about legislation Ron Calderon supported on behalf of the Central Basin Municipal Water District and about Tom's connections to water contracts that his companies won while serving as a consultant to the district, according to two people who also told The Associated Press they were questioned by the FBI. Agents wanted to know, ''did we support this piece of legislation,'' said an elected LA official. ''They kept bringing up certain contracts... 'Do I know about this contract, that contract, this piece of legislation related to that contract?...What relationship we have with our water board?''' The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of concern the FBI would be upset by comments about an ongoing investigation. The official said, in all, agents asked about four or five contracts awarded in the last several years to companies that were all connected to Tom Calderon and about legislation supported by Ron Calderon on water-related issues. FBI agents asked openended questions such as ''What do you know about the Calderons?'' or ''What have you heard about the Calderons lately?'' In at least one case, they encouraged a former elected official to attend fundraising events or other social activities where he might encounter the Calderons. ''(They said,) 'If you are meeting with them, we would definitely want to know what's going on,''' the former official said. ''The bureau always makes it real clear that you do what you normally do, you don't go doing something because of us.'' Michael Franchek, for- mer vice president of EcoGreen Services, said agents interviewed him twice and wanted to know about a contract his water conservation consulting company unsuccessfully sought from the city of Maywood, which is part of the Central Basin district. The contract went to a firm for which Tom Calderon served as president. Calderon has introduced or opposed at least two recent pieces of legislation on behalf of the Central Basin Municipal Water District. In 2011, he introduced a bill that would have given Central Basin authority over groundwater in the area. Committee hearings on the bill were canceled at Calderon's request and the bill never progressed. Last year, Calderon vehemently, but unsuccessfully, opposed a bill by then-Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, that gave control of the scarce resource to a competing water agency. ''What this legislation does is further fuel the flames of ongoing water wars'' by ''usurping'' Central Basin's control, Calderon declared on the Senate floor at the time, and charged that ''there is other motivation behind this legislation.'' Central Basin hired an outside law firm last year to look into allegations of improper conduct and conflict of interest in awarding water contracts, including allegations involving Tom Calderon. Its 160-page report, reviewed by the AP, said no evidence was found to substantiate the allegations. Berries blamed for California man's Hepatitis A ENCINITAS (AP) — Geoff Soza was celebrating his 30th wedding anniversary in Yellowstone National Park when the 64-yearold man learned the hard way that his seemingly healthy breakfast habit of mixing thawed berries with Greek yogurt had exposed him to a national outbreak of hepatitis A. Dozens of illnesses have been reported, and federal officials have recalled a frozen berry mix sold by Costco and Harris Teeter in seven states. Soza, a semi-retired contractor, was resting at his Encinitas home this week after an ordeal that threatened to put him on a liver transplant list. He hadn't felt right in the weeks before leaving for Yellowstone on May 29 — but his lack of appetite and disorientation didn't merit canceling the trip. ''I thought, 'I'm getting something. I'm coming down with something' and I thought I'd just ride it out and live with it,'' he said. His wife, Rita, said he doesn't complain much as ''a very active, tough kind of person,'' but he seemed lethargic when they flew to Salt Lake City and rented a car to drive to the park. On the second night of their trip, the Sozas called paramedics who examined Geoff and recommended he visit St. John's Medical Center. They didn't think a medical evacuation was necessary. They thought they could wait until morning, but after a few hours, Rita drove three hours on dark rural roads to Jackson, Wyo. Doctors initially thought Geoff Soza's gall bladder needed to be removed after finding signs of inflammation and stones. But general surgeon Dr. Michael Rosenberg halted the surgery, scheduled for June 1, because of Soza's elevated liver enzymes. After more tests, Soza was diagnosed with hepatitis A, Rosenberg said.