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THURSDAY Chico Swim Results Performances AUGUST 1, 2013 Pastimes Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 4A SPORTS 1B DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Sunny 90/60 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 rules for family in boy's Lassen Park death SACRAMENTO (AP) — Officials at Lassen Volcanic National Park knew of the dangers posed by a retaining wall that gave way and crushed a 9year-old Red Bluff boy to death, but failed to close it as required by their safety program, a federal judge ruled. U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley granted summary judgment Tuesday to Tommy Botell's family, who sued the federal government after Tommy's 2009 death at the park. Nunley dismissed the government's argument that the safety program that called for the wall's closure was not mandatory, but at the park's discretion. Steve Campora, an attorney for the Botells, told the San Francisco Chronicle they will return to court Sept. 16 to determine damages. The family sought $9 million when they filed the lawsuit last year. Lauren Horwood, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California, said the office could not comment on the decision. The office is representing the government in the case. Ishi Camp A-OK In July 2009, Tommy and his 13-year-old sister were hiking a trail ascending 2,000foot Lassen Peak and sat down to take photographs atop the rock-and-mortar retaining wall. The wall crumbled, and a See LASSEN, page 7A Red Bluff man killed in Afghanistan A 22-year-old Red Bluff man serving in the Army was killed Tuesday in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense said Army Spc. Nicholas B. Burley died in Pul-E-Alam, Afghanistan from injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire. Burley was serving in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division in Fort Stewart, Ga. Burley graduated Red Bluff Union High School in 2009. He is the son of Tammy Olmstead of Red Bluff and Mike Burley of Foresthill. Burley graduated basic training from Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. in 2011. Full palette planned for Community Center's 30th gala Daily News file photo An inmate fire crew trains in Paynes Creek in May. By ANDRE BYIK DN Staff Writer The 2012-13 Tehama County grand jury in its annual report lauded the operation of the CalFire Ishi Conservation Camp, which houses inmate crews that aid in fire suppression. The grand jury found that the fire camp in Paynes Creek in northeast Tehama County is operated in an "exemplary manner," inmates are properly trained, certified and vetted prior to participation in the program, and that the camp is meeting its goals to improve the employability of inmates and reduce recidivism while enhancing public safety. The grand jury's single recommendation is that the camp "continue and expand programs that encourage positive reentry into the community with marketable skills and education." The camp offers inmates, who are generally nonviolent offenders from the California Correction Cen- ter in Susanville, trade training opportunities such as welding and the camp has auto, saw and cabinet shops, CalFire Lt. Welton Hershberger said. Hershberger added that the camp helps inmates attain driver licenses or state ID cards so when they reenter communities they're "ready to work." In 2012, Assistant Chief Dave Russell said inmate fire crews worked about 2,600 hours at schools throughout Tehama County and are scheduled to clean up an area around Los Molinos High School today. The Ishi Conservation Camp, which opened in 1961, is jointly run by CalFire and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Northern Calif. accountant sentenced on tax fraud SACRAMENTO (AP) — A Sacramento-area accountant who managed investments for several NBA players is getting 16 months in jail for seeking millions of dollars in fraudulent state tax refunds. Prosecutors say 48year-old Larry Harmon of Granite Bay created false bank documents for sales tax refunds on defaulted car loans. The attorney general's office says Harmon submitted $4.5 million in fake claims and was preparing another $10 million in claims. He pleaded guilty to one count of forgery and was sentenced Tuesday in Sacramento County Superior Court. His certified public accountant license was suspended in April. Harmon formerly worked for Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks and Ben Gordon of the Charlotte Bobcats. His attorney, Don Heller, says Harmon is ''very sorry for what occurred and he will move forward in his life.'' Have a news tip? Call 527-2151, Ext. 112 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 "It's been a great working relationship with both agencies," Russell said. "We're all pretty much on the same page for camp operations and our responsibilities to the public." The camp is one of 36 Cal Fire camps throughout the state and housed 88 inmates at the time of the grand jury's visit. The Ishi Conservation Camp has a maximum capacity of 110 and currently houses 101 inmates, Russell said. Inmate fire crews at the camp can be assigned to construct fire lines by clearing vegetation, assist engine crews with hose deployments and can be assigned to bulldozer activities, according to Cal Grand Jury See ISHI, page 7A The Red Bluff Community and Senior Center will be humming with activity all day Friday, celebrating the 30th anniversary of its beginnings. In August, 1983, Goldie Walston and a group of her friends started raising money for a community center, and the auxiliary that she organized is sponsoring the birthday party. They will show off the freshlypainted walls, the most recent donation by the Auxiliary. Entertainment for all ages, food, a car show, displays and other activities will fill the day, starting with a Red Bluff Community Band performance at 9 a.m. Dating back to Civil War days, the group one of the oldest community bands in the nation. During the summer, it performs each Monday night at the Red Bluff River Park. Larry Stevens, vice president of the Red Bluff Community Center Auxiliary, has coordinated the events and will welcome the audience. Young Marines and Boy Scouts will form the color guard and assist during the day. Kerry DeFonte, local vocalist, will sing the National Anthem. Among dignitaries that Stevens will introduce will be Red Bluff Union High School student Austin Smith, who designed the cover for the official program. The Center history in print, photos and art will fill the fireplace room with Goldie's portrait taken by Ralph Ehorn smiling overhead. Outside the Rancho Tehama Yolla Bolly Region Auto Club will See GALA, page 7A Horse whisperer coming to Red Bluff The world's leading horse whisperer is scheduled to be in Red Bluff Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 34 and admission is free. Master Horseman Dennis Reis is the founder of the Reis Ranch School of Universal Horsemanship and performed 50 sold out shows during National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Reis will be performing with three of his personal horses and will work with local horses with severe behavioral issues. Watch Reis students showcase their incredible relationships with their horses and maneuver through exciting challenge course. Reis will share his knowledge of horses through Colt Starting, Problem Horses, Herd Dynamics and The Big Red Ball. The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Tehama District Fair- Courtesy photo ground, 650 Antelope Blvd. in Red Bluff. The show is meant to honor and promote the welfare of the horse and teach horse owners to com- municate with their horse in the only language horses understand — body language. Reis hopes to show horse owners how to work with the horse's natural instinct verses the use of mechanical devices and fear. For more information , call 800-732-8220 or visit www.reisranch.com.