Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/137993
WEDNESDAY Zucchini Won't Legion Action Get Old JUNE 19, 2013 County Fare Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 5A SPORTS 1B DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Mostly sunny 81/57 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 County budget passed Idaho man leads cops on chase By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer A siren was quickly followed by a California Highway Patrol unit in pursuit of a dark gray or black pickup truck about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday exiting Interstate 5 to Diamond Avenue and toward South Main Street. Scanner traffic about 9:30 a.m. indicated CHP was in pursuit of a vehicle that had gotten back onto southbound Interstate 5, heading toward the Gerber area. The driver, identified by CHP in a press release as Randen Russell Knight, 22, of Lewiston, Idaho, had stolen the vehicle from the Ace Hardware store in Cottonwood, entering I-5 at Gas Point Road. A Red Bluff CHP officer saw the 2001 Dodge Ram pickup on I-5 just north of Red Bluff by Jellys Ferry Road and tried to make a traffic stop south of Adobe Road where a pursuit began, the release said. The pursuit reached speeds of 80-90 mph. A spike strip was set up at Flores Avenue, but the vehicle missed it as it passed at 9:36 a.m. and there was nothing but a cloud of dust for the efforts, according to See CHASE, page 7A Motorcyclist badly hurt on I-5 By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Daily News graphic by Rich Greene By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer The Tehama County Board of Supervisors passed a rather status quo preliminary 2013-14 fiscal year budget Tuesday with no major service changes that once again gave the highest priority of discretionary funds to public safety. The board put off discussions regarding a new library, jail expansion and a Walnut Street shop and storage building until September and the fiscal year budget's final approval. Chief Administrator Bill Goodwin said the county is living in interesting times with the pending large-scale projects, three new board members, two new department heads, health benefit reform, cautiously optimistic economic forecasts and changes by the state to county funding sources. For the most part the county's total spending and revenues decreased from the previous fiscal year, although that is largely attributed to a large number of road projects in 2012-13. While the preliminary budget gives department heads a working budget to use as of July 1, a final budget will not be passed until September after the fiscal year ends. At that time the board will make decisions on closing any funding gaps that may occur if carryover balances don't suffice from the year prior. The preliminary budget provides for $161 million in spending authority and anticipates revenues of $144 million. About 58 percent of general fund expenditures will be spent on public safety as the county will cover a $15.1 million gap between revenues and expenditures in the Public Safety Fund. The budget provides for a net Report: Calif. locking up far fewer young people SACRAMENTO (AP) — California is a national leader in reducing the number of juvenile offenders incarcerated in state and county lockups, according to a study advocacy groups released Tuesday. Driven by budget cuts, lawsuits and research, the state has taken steps that helped reduce the number of youths in correctional facilities by 41 percent between 2000 and 2010. Fewer than 9,800 youths were in state and county custody by 2010, down from a peak of 17,551 in 2000. The number continues to drop. State juvenile centers hold just 724 of the most violent or predatory youth in three facilities, down from about 10,000 incarcerated by what was then the California Youth Authority during its peak more than a decade ago. The report by the National Juvenile Justice Network and the Texas Public Policy Foundation says 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 California is one of nine states leading the nation in reducing youth incarceration. Its study focused on those ages 10 to 17. Although tight budgets and court orders helped prompt the changes, the study credits California policymakers with recognizing that young offenders think and develop differently than adults and are more likely to benefit from rehabilitation programs. The drop also reflects a general reduction in crimes committed by youths. ''There's no question in California that the budget is certainly a big motivator. But California was a pioneer back in the mid-'90s with this kind of stuff,'' Benjamin Chambers, who helped write the report for the National Juvenile Justice Network, said in a telephone interview. ''There was a recognition that kids are different. ... They're more likely to act impulsively compared to adults, and they're more likely to change.'' Policymakers reacted two decades ago to research that showed youth respond See YOUNG, page 7A reduction of 0.6 full-time equivalent positions. The lone position being deleted comes in the District Attorney's Office. It is related to grant fund availability and will not involve a layoff. The budget includes fixed asset requests totaling $2.7 million, although some of those approvals are being held until the final September budget.. Among the largest purchases are a motor grader, water tender, two used fire trucks and TRAX bus shelter upgrades. Goodwin's budget report lists the state's deficit reducing, the Administrative Office of the Courts' $4060 million courthouse project and Red Bluff and Corning merchants' continued improvement of storefronts and marketing as positive signs for the future of Tehama See BUDGET, page 7A A 19-year-old Corning man was flown to Enloe Medical Center in Chico with major injuries in the second of three collisions between 1 and 1:47 p.m. Monday on northbound Interstate 5. The Corning man, identified by a California Highway Patrol spokesman as Matthew Cochran, was on a 2007 Kawasaki motorcycle that collided with a 2002 Ford Ranger pickup at 1:25 p.m. on I-5 north of Gyle Road. Cochran was traveling behind Curt Buxton, 21, of Red Bluff. He failed to notice that Buxton had slowed to a stop and collided with Buxton's pickup without even slowing, resulting in injury, the spokesman said. Cynthia Nehf and her husband were among the first people on the scene of the crash, she said. "We were coming up on some traffic so my husband was slowing down," Nehf said. "About four car lengths ahead of us, we saw something bouncing off the road. The object was red and plastic pieces were flying everywhere. At first I said, 'what the heck is that? Looks like a small luggage rack.'" Nehf's husband realized it was a motorcycle and pulled over as traffic stopped. Nehf ran over to a young girl with the motorcycle, who was is screaming for her boyfriend. "He was moving and responsive, thank God," Nehf said. "His left arm was cut and bleeding, his right wrist was visibly broken. He was screaming See I-5, page 7A Lassen Peak Trail open to summit The Lassen Peak Trail will open for visitors wanting to hike to the summit of Lassen Peak on June 21-23 during daylight hours. Evening closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. have been set due to safety concerns. "An assessment of the trail revealed a few lingering snow fields which pose a considerable hazard to hikers with the low evening temperatures and limited visibility," said Park Superintendent Darlene Koontz. Hikers are encouraged to consider Cinder Cone, in the Butte Lake area, as an alternative full moon hike. Visitors wishing to hike Lassen Peak Trail should be prepared for winter conditions including over-thesnow travel. Hikers will need to stay on the trail and follow the marked route where covered by snow. Some of the equipment hikers should consider includes: sturdy hiking boots, trekking poles, crampons and ice axe, layered clothing, food, water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and first aid kit. It is also advisable to check weather forecasts just prior to hiking. As rehabilitation work on the Lassen Peak Trail continues, the trail will be open most of the summer season to 1.3 mile Grand- view Overlook. The trail to the summit will be open on the weekends of June 21-23, July 4-7, Aug. 16-18, and Aug. 30Sept. 2. On June 21, visitors can enjoy a new cellular audio tour and route through the Lassen Peak summit crater. The audio tour features true stories from individuals who experienced the Lassen Peak eruptions first-hand. To learn more about facilities, trail status, receive updates, or check for current conditions, go to the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo on Twitter@LassenNPS, on Facebook or contact park staff at (530) 595-4480. Smog Inspection $ 2595 +$825 certificate (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) • Members Welcome 530 527-9841 195 S. Main St., Red Bluff