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THURSDAY AUGUST 26, 2010 Breaking news at: Learning to Crawl Pastimes www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 5A RED BLUFF Tennis Preview SPORTS 1B Weather forecast 10B Sunny 100/64 DAILYNEWS TEHAMACOUNTY DAILY 50¢ T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 DN Staff Writer Groundwork for a Holiday Inn Express has begun, but pro- ject completion is still a year away. New hotel breaks ground; still a year away ‘I’m looking forward to starting this By TANG LOR construction probably will not happen any time soon, said Baldev Singh Dhugge, CEO of Redding Hotels LLC. From the decision to pull Some grading was per- formed earlier this month, piquing the interest of several residents. But any substantial building permits to trying to secure a loan, the time schedule of the project has pretty much depended on the economy, Dhugge said. Dhugge bought the lot project. Hopefully something will happen next year’ Baldev Singh Dhugge, CEO Redding Hotels between Home Depot and the former Red Bluff Ford dealer- ship about 18 months ago and immediately expressed interest Shots hit RB home in building the hotel. But because of the economic down- turn he waited until now to pull building permits. Planning Director Scot Tim- boe said permits for grading and infrastructure have been issued. The city has given approval on the project, and getting the hotel built is at the See HOTEL, page 9A Man arrested for beating child, 2 A Red Bluff man was arrested Tuesday evening after reports he spanked a girl so hard it left bruises. The 2-year-old daughter of the 29-year-old man had bruises on her hips, arms, back and buttocks when doc- See CHILD, page 9A Olive Fest continues tonight with mixer By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Red Bluff Police blocked off Jackson Street at Cedar Street Wednesday morning while investigating a 5:11 a.m. shooting at a residence in the 1000 block. By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Red Bluff Police had Jackson Street cordoned off at Cedar Street after shots were fired around 5:11 a.m. Wednesday with several going into a nearby residence in the 1000 block. The owner of the house, who was inside when the shots were fired, said she heard something shatter, but assumed it was some- thing falling. “Fortunately the owner wasn’t injured,” said Sgt. Jason Beeman. “The owner was in the back room and the bullets were in the front More arrests in major pot bust Authorities announced additional arrests and mar- ijuana seizures Wednes- day connected to a mas- sive operation that yielded 167,000 marijuana plants in National Forest land in western Tehama County. Between Aug. 16 and 20, members of the Attor- ney General’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement North State Marijuana Investigation Team, Unit- ed States Forest Service, California Department of Fish and Game, California Highway Patrol, Tehama Interagency Drug Enforcement team and the Campaign Against Mari- juana Planting task forces raided some 20 complex- es, according to a press release from the Attorney General’s office. Arrests made during and since include: • Jesus Mendoza, 23, who was arrested Aug. 16 after he reportedly fled a marijuana garden complex during a raid, according to the release. During his attempted escape, Mendoza report- edly dropped a stolen 9 mm handgun. At least one other sus- pect fled the scene, but officials recovered more than 7,000 marijuana plants and more ammuni- tion, according to the release. Mendoza was arrested on suspicion of cultivating marijuana and possessing marijuana for sale. • California Highway Patrol officers reportedly pursued a vehicle that refused to yield for a traf- fic stop around 3 a.m. Aug. 17 near Bowman Road and Highway 36. At the end of the chase, the driver bailed out of his vehicle and escaped, but left 60 pounds of processed marijuana behind. • Stalin Lopez, 21, and Poncho Jasiwte, 40, were both arrested around 3 a.m. Aug. 18 by the Unit- ed States Forest Service near Tomhead Mountain. When the USFS tried to pull over a vehicle Lopez and Jasiwte were driving, See POT, page 9A 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Red Bluff Outdoor Power room.” Officers responding to the area found seven handgun shell casings in the road, a Red Bluff Police release said. Further inspection showed two shots hit a pickup truck in front of the house and three entered the house. One other round See SHOTS, page 9A Corning Chamber of Commerce President Bar- bara Landavazo and Chamber Manager ValAnne Cardenas were at Tuesday’s City Council meeting seeking volun- teers for the dunk tank at the Corning Olive Festi- val, which continues tonight through Saturday. Several council mem- bers and candidates alike were stepping forward Tuesday with offers to be dunked Saturday at the festival, or buy their way out, with Mayor Gary Strack volunteering to be first in the dunk tank. “I’ll be dunked and it will be fun,” said Melodie Poison, who is running for one of two open coun- cil seats. Councilwoman Toni Parkins set the precedent with a $50 donation to buy her way out. Candi- date Gena Bowen was quick to offer to buy her way out and Cardenas said candidate Jesse Lopes had already con- tacted her with his offer to be dunked. The council passed a proclamation designating the week of Aug. 21-28 as Olive Festival Week. The fun of the festival continues tonight with the Olive Festival Mixer, 6-8 p.m. at Bell Carter Olives. Friday at 6 p.m. will be the Olive Festival Parade with the route starting at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall on Solano Street and heading toward City Hall. The parade, which has more entries than usual, will be followed by the traditional bed races. Saturday’s festivities start at 7 a.m. with a pan- cake breakfast and the fun run is at 9 a.m. with regis- See OLIVE, page 9A Fire claims Corning home By GEOFF JOHN- SON DN Staff Writer CORNING — A backfiring truck burned down a residence Wednesday afternoon at the corner of Hoag and Hall roads. The residence was once home to the moth- er-in-law of Los Molinos resident Ahmed Elshenawy before a dis- ability forced her to move into Corning, he said. “I’ve never seen fire so fast,” Elshenawy said. On Wednesday, Elshenawy set out to move an old truck attracting graffiti at the residence in 110-degree weather. But though the tall, dry grass had been cleared below and around a truck, a spark leapt onto a standing patch, Battalion Chief Greg Gutierriz said. With the help of a friend with a tow truck, Elshenawy was able to move his truck off the property before it caught fire. But the flames quickly spread to about half-an-acre and by the time firefighters arrived, just before 1 p.m., the See FIRE, page 9A Daily News photo by Geoff Johnson CalFire firefighters tend to what’s left of a Corning home after it burned Wednesday. • “Main Street or Wall Street” banking, which do you want As Local As.... CALL TODAY (530) 529-1222 237 South Main Street • Still offering better than free checking • Now offering Health Savings Accounts • Local decision making • Community Support