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THURSDAY Lab Holds US Open Preview Ribbon Cutting JUNE 13, 2013 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 5A SPORTS 1B DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Sunny 85/59 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 From the heart Dam work goes out to bid By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer The Bureau of Reclamation is in the process of receiving bids for decommissioning work at the Red Bluff Diversion Dam. The project is estimated to cost between $1 million and $5 million. Among the work to be done is the demolition, removal and disposal of interim, research and temporary pumping plant facilities near the dam. The work order also calls for the demolition, removal and disposal of drums screens for the Settling Basin and Tehama-Colusa Canal Check as well as five on-site trailers. At the siphon inlet removable guardrails will be installed with stop logs and a lifting beam. The two concrete fish ladders will be removed with earth and gravel filled between the concrete walls and a concrete cap placed on each ladder. A concrete cutoff wall is to be built to separate the See DAM, page 7A Daily News photo by Greg Stevens Businesses get cans Wednesday for the Food From the Heart food drive from Adam Kingsley of North State Food Bank. Farm bill reforms would mean change for Sacramento Valley rice growers By HEATHER HACKING MediaNews Group By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer On Wednesday, several businesses and organizations came to kick of the Food From the Heart Food Drive organized by Gold Exchange Owner Jessie Woods by picking up donation cans. For four years, the food drive, which started as a movement by the Downtown Red Bluff Business Association, has been collecting food to help the needy in Tehama County. This year, things will be a bit different starting with a change in dates and that the group is raising funds instead of taking donations of food, Woods said. It is also expanding its service area. "The need is so great that this year we are taking Food From the Heart countywide," Woods said. "More than 6,200 children, ill and needy are served via Tehama County Food Bank Partners each month." The Gold Exchange is partnering with the Tehama County Community Action Agency, Tehama Together, the North State Food Bank and the 18 food banks within Tehama County. "By leveraging resources and working together, local charities are able to turn a simple $18 donation into 100 pounds of nutritious food, including fresh produce," Woods said. "For this reason, Food From the Heart has become a fund drive rather than a food drive to be held June 16-30." The change from February to June came in part due to the fact that it was harder, having just had several food drives in December, to get donations, Woods said. It was also moved because in June schools are out, which means a lot of children are without the food programs they receive at school so the families had a greater need for food, she said. A fundraiser allows the food Brown plan gives big money to close education gap SACRAMENTO (AP) — California schools will receive an infusion of more than $3.6 billion in extra money this year, much of it targeted to the neediest students as part of a redistribution plan pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown. The Democratic governor hopes that dramatically reshaping how state aid is handed out will correct decades of inequality between districts. He also wants to give local schools much of the responsibility to decide how the money is spent. Whether the additional money will actually help close the longstanding achievement gap between poor and minority students and their counterparts hinges almost entirely on how the money is spent. Yet just days before lawmakers are expected to begin voting on the budget Friday, there is little guidance for them to follow. The Legislature, which is dominated by Democrat- 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 ic lawmakers with close ties to the state's powerful teachers unions, appears likely to avoid attaching rigorous standards to the extra money, possibly pushing many of the decisions regarding oversight and accountability to the appointed state Board of Education. That worries advocates for education reform. ''It concerns us that so many of these critical issues are being punted in some ways to the state Board of Education,'' said Arun Ramanathan, executive director of The Education Trust-West, which advocates for poor and minority children. He said lawmakers need to include strict language in the state budget for fiscal transparency, parental involvement and accountability to ensure the money is spent as intended — to directly benefit disadvantaged students. ''Without those three things, the public's going to say, 'You gave a bunch of money to poor kids. What happened to it? And what See BROWN, page 7A banks to take what they receive and not just last for a few months, but for some will mean being able to do needed projects and others the ability to keep their doors open, Woods said. Woods is hopeful that the model will be such a success that it is used to take to other counties to show what can be done, she said. "It's a different way to do it," Woods said. "Normally the food is passed out immediately and there's nothing for the long term. This way they can have an account that agencies can tap into all year long." Those receiving help include Alternatives to Violence, Bridgeway to Hope Ministries, Channel of Love Ministries, Corning Christian Assistance, First Baptist Church, Hands of Hope Rescue Mission, Harvest Christian Center, Hope Rescue Mission, The Lord's Table, Food For The Hungry, Mercy HousSee HEART, page 7A WASHINGTON — Sacramento Valley rice farmers will likely see the end of crop subsidy payments and a new age of crop insurance under versions of a federal farm bill working their way through Congress. Monday, the Senate passed its version of the 2013 farm bill, which covers a variety of agriculture programs, including money for lowincome food programs, conservation, trade, research, farm credit, rural development and specialty crops, among others. But the House still needs to pass its version of the farm bill, and then both houses work out differences. Last year the farm bill reforms stalled when the house did not pass legislation. Instead, the 2008 farm bill was extended. Nearly $1 trillion over 10 years The farm bill typically is passed every five years, and the funding is considered for the upcoming 10. The current Senate version would include $955 billion over 10 years. The majority — $760 billion — is for nutrition programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP — which helps provide food for 45 million Americans. Commodity and crop insurance programs are another $130 billion over 10 years, and conservation about $58 billion. The Senate version of the bill calls for $24 billion in cuts over 10 years, See FARM, page 7A 3 vie for Dairy Princess title Three young women will compete for the prestigious title of Dairy Princess during ceremonies at the upcoming District 4 Dairy Princess Contest Thursday, June 27, at the Rolling Hills Casino in Corning. This year's contestants are Andrea Boer and Mackenzie Gomes, both of Willows and Abaigeal Zuppan of Orland. Boer is the daughter of Martin and Heather Boer of Willows. Andrea attends Willows High School participating in FFA and the Clover 4-H where she served as President last year. Andrea calls herself an "animal lover," and she demonstrates this love to those in need, as she is part of a Pet Therapy Project in a local rest home. As Andrea states, animals "turn [her] frowns upside down," and she most assuredly creates smiles with her beloved animals at the Willows Care Home. Andrea has grown up on her family's dairy farm, and she knows what it is like to work; she helps on weekends and school days early in the morning with the feeding and maintenance of the dairy's calves. Andrea Boer Gomes Zuppan could bring many different assets to the Dairy Princess role. Gomes is the daughter of David and Veronica Gomes of Willows. Mackenzie attends California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo participating in the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow and the San Luis Obispo County Young Farmers and Ranchers, and FFA to name a few. Mackenzie's FFA participation continues her high school relationship with the organization where she earned many different honors, such as her Chapter and State degrees. Mackenzie applied to be Dairy Princess two years ago, but won the 2011 Willows Lamb Derby Queen crown, so she had to withdraw her application. Mackenzie feels that this was a blessing, as she feels more prepared and will take on the duties of the District 4 Dairy Princess with more maturity than she would have in the past. Zuppan is the daughter of John and Mary Zuppan of Orland. Abaigeal attends Hamilton High School and will begin her senior year this fall. In high school, she is actively involved in FFA serving as Reporter and Secretary and will serve as President for 2013-2014. Abaigeal has received several awards in FFA, including Star Greenhand and Outstanding Achievement Award. She is passionate about the dairy industry and spends her free time at her family's dairy helping with bookkeeping and pregnancy check of the animals. Her strong ties to the dairy industry encouraged her to vie for Dairy Princess so she can share her passion for the industry in her local community. "Being raised on a dairy has taught me the discipline I need to be able to get up early and complete chores," which is a valuable skill to possess in the role of Dairy Princess. The young lady crowned as Dairy Princess will represent the dairy industry in the counties of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, See DAIRY, page 7A