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Friday, September 3, 2010 – Daily News – 7A Obituary JOAN WICKEY PARKER Joan Wickey Parker passed away on Thursday, August 26, 2010; Joan was 91 years old. She was a lov- ing wonderful person, al- ways Happy and helpful. She is survived by her loving husband, James Da- vid Parker, her two loving daughters, Linda Ferm and Carol Brush, and her loving son, Bill Epperson. Joan leaves behind five grand- children, Julia Fowler, Bruce Ferm, Dianna Den- nis, Scott Brush and Sarah Corey. She also leaves be- hind grandchildren. She will be missed by all. CAMP Continued from page 1A camp for more than a year as a way to secure labor for an olive orchard. If approved, the camp would be west of Woodson Bridge and south of South Avenue. Proponents of the pro- ject have said it will reduce traffic by giving workers a place to stay close to the orchard. Testimony against the STRIDES Continued from page 1A nesses along the route, many of whom are big supporters.” Afterwards there will be a hot dog barbecue at the starting point. Klein said the organization does not always get a lot of response, especially since many people don’t understand what it does. “We don’t just take people off the street,” Klein said. “We educate them and give them skills.” The organization, which opened its transitional women’s housing on Sale Lane in January, already has a few success stories and is working toward having more, she said. The house, which is run by House Manager Jodi Cordial, is capable of housing 15 people and is full with a waiting list, Klein said. “Homelessness is a by-product of many problems in our society — drugs, mental illness and domestic violence,” Cordial said. “These women do get lost on their path and they need a stable, structure-orient- ed program. We have pretty hard criteria and a long waiting list.” The program has a 30-day proba- 12 great- POT Continued from page 1A There, agents found another 700 pounds of marijuana, confiscated some $22,470 and arrested Michoacan, Mexico resi- dent Leovgildo Villa- Albor, 27, according to the release. On the same day, authorities executed two other search warrants. On Gardiner Ferry Road, also in Corning, they found 2,000 pounds of fertilizer and several thousand feet of black irrigation tubing, both of which are consis- project from Corning resi- dents has included every- thing from fears of increased dust and noise levels to increased traffic and crime, though existing camps in Tehama County have rarely required inter- vention from the Sheriff’s Department. Its passage through the TAC represents the latest technical hurdle that has postponed the project. The project had passed the TAC, but had to be resubmitted because docu- ments exempting Ferro tent with large outdoor growing operations. A third search warrant for a San Benito Avenue address in Gerber yielded the arrest of Juan Jiminez-Herra, 35, also of Michoacan. He was reportedly found hiding in a residence with anoth- er 1,250 pounds of mari- juana and a loaded 9 mm handgun. Four more men were arrested in Southern Cali- fornia by the RCSO when authorities found another 660 pounds of marijuana, $29,200, a handgun and a bullet-proof vest. The investigation is continuing and further from an Environmental Impact Report mentioned a non-existent second phase, according to min- utes from Wednesday’s meeting. The plans to be consid- ered by the Planning Com- mission would include about 20 conditions, including one that would indemnify the county against any lawsuits over the project. Minutes show Orchard Manager Chris Henderson objecting to this, claiming the condition singles out tionary period before applicants are accepted and all applicants accepted must be homeless and clean and sober for 90 days and have a strong desire and willingness to make changes to become self-sufficient, Cordial said. Residents have to do community service among other requirements. “ If they leave the house with nothing else, we want them to know how important it is to support your community,” Cordial said. Residents are limited to a maxi- mum of two years at the facility, but many are able to get their lives in order sooner, Klein said. “What I really need is people to be sponsors,” Klein said. “I’m not going to kid around. We need the money.” A collection basket was passed at the meeting and just shy of $300 was raised for PATH, with at least one Kiwanian stepping forward to be a team captain for the walk. “We’re really grateful for the community’s support,” Cordial said. “We are a huge resource for the community and we are making a difference.” In addition to the women’s transi- tional house, PATH has men’s tran- SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An electronic meter- reading system operated by California’s largest utility is highly accurate, despite thousands of customer com- plaints, according to an independent analysis released Thursday. The three-year-old Pacific Gas & Electric Co. system uses electronic data, rather than meter readers, to determine the monthly gas and electric use of customers. Several California utilities are trying out the devices, but PG&E’s $2 billion initiative is by far the largest in the state with the most smart meters in the country. The company has installed the meters in 5.5 million households, mostly in the Central Valley and San Francisco Bay area, and it plans to expand the program in 2012 to about 9.8 million of its 15 million total customers. The five-month study was released at a meeting of the California Public Utilities Commission, which ordered the review after receiving a flood of reports last year about sky- rocketing electricity costs and bill estimates that were high- er than what customers actually owed. However, the analysis by The Structure Group of Hous- ton found smart meters were accurately gauging electricity use. It said poor customer service by PG&E contributed to Federal aid for Calif-Ore border TULE LAKE (AP) — An ongo- ing drought has led the federal gov- ernment to declare a disaster area in the California-Oregon border region in an effort to bring relief to stricken farmers and ranchers. The U.S. Agriculture Department announced Thursday that nine border counties in California and Oregon would be declared a natural disaster area, opening up low interest loans from the federal government. arrests are expected, according to the release. All of the marijuana was slated for sale out of state. Previous sales by the organization have reached the Midwest and the East Coast, NSMIT member and CHP Officer Heath Helman said. The organization is thought to employ hun- dreds of people involved in everything from garden- ing to food drops to trans- portation, Helman said. He estimated it has been active in Tehama County for about six years. The organization’s members have been linked to at least 28 gardens the project, but TAC com- mittee members directed his concerns to the Plan- ning Commission. The Planning Commis- sion is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, in the Board of Super- visors chambers on 727 Oak St. More information is available by calling 527- 2200. ——— Geoff Johnson can be reached at 527-2153, extension 114 or gjohnson@redbluffdailyn ews.com. sitional housing apartments, runs a homeless shelter in the winter that rotates among area churches and is working to build a permanent home- less shelter with a grant. Other non-profits have been invited to join the walk with the option of receiving 50 percent of what the team raises for its non- profit organization. Each team captain will receive a free shirt with this year’s theme “I walk to make a difference” on the front. Money for the PATH walk is due by Wednesday. There will be a collection barrel at the event for the Salvation Army, which is running low on supplies in its food bank. “I think it’s important that we as a community work together,” Cor- dial said. The Sale House Ladies team will hold a car wash 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat- urday in the Tractor Supply parking lot. For more information and to donate, call 527-6439 or visit www.redbluffpath.com. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com. Audit: Calif. ’smart meters’ mostly accurate widespread customer dissatisfaction. In addition, meter installation in certain areas last year coincided with a heat wave and rate increases, resulting in increased energy use and higher-than-average bills, the review stated. PG&E said it was pleased with the findings about accu- racy. ‘‘We also agree with its criticism of our failure to address customer concerns on a timely basis, and have taken steps to address that real shortfall in our program,’’ said Helen Burt, PG&E senior vice president and chief customer offi- cer. Smart meters record residential electric usage hourly and gas usage daily. The data is periodically transmitted to PG&E via a secure wireless communication network. Despite the study, many skeptics remained unsatisfied with the devices. ‘‘So far what is missing from the report is any sense that this was a true ’investigation’ as opposed to a review of PG&E’s smart meters,’’ said state Sen. Dean Florez, D- Shafter. The lawmaker plans to convene a legislative hearing to address possible flaws in the system. Michael Peevey, president of the utilities commission, hoped the report would ease customer concerns. STATE BRIEFING The heavily agricultural Klamath Basin area has been wracked by severe drought since March. The region produces onions, potatoes and grains, among other crops. A combination of drought and the diversion of water to aid federally protected salmon and sucker fish species have led to a steep drop in water available to more than 1,000 farms fed by the basin’s federal irriga- tion project. Small plane crash SACRAMENTO (AP) — Authorities say two people were injured when a small, homemade airplane crashed as it tried to land at a rural runway about 25 miles southeast of Sacramento. Federal Aviation Administra- tion spokesman Lynn Lunsford said the pilot was airlifted to a hos- pital with head injuries after the 9:45 a.m. Thursday crash. The lone passenger was taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Lunsford says the plane bounced several times while attempting to land at the privately owned Rancho Murieta Airport. Save the Date Sept. 10-19, 2010 Fall Sale @ Red Bluff Garden Center 40% off 1 gallon & larger plants Garden Center Red Bluff 766 Antelope Blvd. (Next to the Fairground) 527-0886 across the North State, including sites in the Tehama-Shasta-Trinity National Forest, east of Chico and Shasta County, Helman said. “The National Forests are a prime location for these individuals to con- duct their outdoor mari- juana gardens,” Helman said. “And with the small- er law enforcement pres- ence in the northern state, and with the weather, it’s a great area for them to con- duct these large, large out- door gardens.” Some gardens have been used to cultivate as many as 10,000 plants, Helman said. LOCAL Continued from page 1A ucts),” he said. “There’s a lot of good people here who make really great things.” Aside from edibles, the store offers other Tehama County treasures including shirts, jewelry and hand- made crafts. “Come in and take a look around,” Carper said. “Everyone will find some- thing they like.” The store opened for busi- ness Wednesday with a grand opening celebra- tion planned for next week. The experi- ence is not just available to locals. Through its website at www.tasteoftehama.com, anyone can make purchases, including gift baskets and fresh fruit bouquets. Family- and party-size orders are available. The website is already up and Carter said he hopes to If you go... What: Taste of Tehama When: M-F 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: 331 Oak St. On the Web: tasteoftehama.com have the online store running soon. ——— Tang Lor can be reached at 527-2153, Ext.110 or by e-mail at tlor@redbluffdailynews.com. SoCal board endorses lowered emission goals LOS ANGELES (AP) — Members of Southern California’s regional plan- ning body voted Thursday to endorse lower green- house gas reduction targets than state regulators had proposed to comply with legislation that seeks to ease emissions by fighting sprawl and boosting public transit. The Southern California Association of Govern- ments’ regional council voted 29-21 to try to reduce emissions by 6 percent by 2020 and 8 percent by 2035 by fighting sprawl and boosting public transit. The California Air Resources Board, which will take the council’s vote into account when it sets final targets later this month, initially proposed that the body endorse an 8 percent reduction by 2020 and a 13 percent drop by 2035. But some building industry and business rep- resentatives said those goals were unattainable and would lead to higher taxes and fewer construc- tion jobs. Richard Lambros, exec- utive director of the Build- ing Industry Association of Southern California, praised the decision by the regional council, which is made up of elected officials from the association’s 189 member cities. ‘‘They made a decision that is both aggressive and achievable and will make a significant reduction in emissions while still pro- tecting California’s econo- my,’’ said Lambros, whose industry could have faced greater restrictions under the more aggressive goals. The regional council agreed to consider working toward the state’s more aggressive targets if certain provisions are met, such as increased state funding. The Air Resources Board pledged to continue working with the associa- tion and other regional agencies to meet the state’s pollution goals. ‘‘We agree that it is important to secure addi- tional state and local fund- ing sources to provide transportation options and develop our communities in more sustainable and healthy ways,’’ board spokesman Stanley Young said in a statement. The 75-man investiga- tion marks the largest mar- ijuana yield by NSMIT this year. But it offers little insight into how much marijuana was grown and shipped out of California this season. The amount of marijua- na recovered only seems to grow as the state opens more investigations, Hel- man said. “(It) keeps going up every year,” he said. ——— Geoff Johnson can be reached at 527-2153, extension 114 or gjohnson@redbluffdailyn ews.com.