Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/158244
WEEKEND AUGUST 24-25 2013 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com Jean Barton Column Page 5A DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Sunny 91/65 Weather forecast 10A TEHAMA COUNTY $1.00 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 City wrestles with dwindling reserve Green miles By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer Before the Red Bluff City Council spent $126,425 to finance the lease of three police vehicles Tuesday, it heard from the city's finance director that the depleted General Fund balance had been revised to be around $75,000 richer than previously thought. Led by larger than expected Transient Occupancy Tax revenues, Finance Director Sandy Ryan revised the General Fund estimated ending balance for the upcoming fiscal year to $452,631, up from $377,093. That would be enough to cover around three weeks of city expenditures, well below the 2-month reserve Ryan has said the Government Finance Officers Association recommends entities have on hand. Mayor Wayne Brown asked Ryan what she anticipated the ending balance would be in June 2015 when the city's current contracts with employee units run out. Ryan said she had run numbers using conservative estimates regarding sales tax increases and estimated See CITY, page 9A Pair nabbed after daring getaway Courtesy photo Native plants will be planted around existing trees at the Finnell Avenue off-ramp and several other sections of Interstate 5 in Tehama County. Caltrans is working to turn Interstate 5 green by beautifying it with plants native to Tehama County. The California Department of Transportation District 2, along with contractor Robert Frank Construction from Redding, is in the first phase of a project that will spruce up, so to speak, Interstate 5 with cost-effective vegetation. Crews are installing bark patterns for the hundreds of native, naturalized plants that will grow along a 42-mile stretch of I-5 in Tehama County, from just south of the Liberal Avenue Overcrossing in Corning to Bowman Road in Cottonwood. The plants will be placed at more than a dozen locations by Caltrans crews and members of the California Conservation Corps. They are all very low maintenance and cost efficient. They will be watered for just the first three years, which means less water, electricity and mower usage. The plants will also enhance bird habitat. Caltrans has had success with these same types of plants in Shasta County. They have been growing at Knighton Road and Riverside Avenue with a 95 percent success rate. The project includes storm water detention basins at Bowman Road and Liberal Avenue that are designed to look natural with rock edging. This effort will improve runoff water quality. Excavation material from the detention basins will be used to build vehicle pullouts for maintenance vehicles at the newly landscaped interchanges. The $750,000 project is being made possible by funds from the Federal Transportation Enhancement Program. A 23-year-old man fled a Red Bluff police officer, who was holding him at gunpoint, by jumping into a getaway car Thursday evening, but the man and his 22-year-old female accomplice were eventually arrested at a nearby gas station. The chain of events started around 5:40 p.m. when Walmart's loss prevention unit reported a theft in progress, according to a Red Bluff Police Department press release. Officers responded to the theft and were told the suspect was armed with a knife. At that time officers were unclear whether they were dealing with a petty theft or a robbery in progress. Officers spotted the suspect, Christopher Brewer, running from the area on foot. Brewer attempted to hide in the area of the railroad bridge crossing South Main Street. Officers closed in on Brewer and ordered him to ground at gunpoint. But Brewer's companion Taniesha Coleman, of Shasta Lake City, pulled up to the curb and Brewer See PAIR, page 9A Townhall meeting Healthcare district names new director on healthcare act With just two months before California implements the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, State Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber) and Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) are hosting a townhall meeting in Chico for North State residents to discuss its impact, 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26 at the Veterans Memorial Hall. "ObamaCare was sold to Americans as an affordable insurance plan that will lower healthcare costs for everyone," said Nielsen, in a press release. "The complexities and deficiencies of this legislation, I believe, will result in diminished, rationed and more expensive healthcare for most Americans." LaMalfa said, "North State residents need to understand how their access to medical care will be impacted once the clock runs out on the president's health care plan. At every level of coverage, Butte County residents will see their costs increase and options for care decrease – even under the most affordable plans available, out-of-pocket expenses will skyrocket. As Congress goes back into session and considers alternatives to the President's plan, I want to hear our constituents' ideas for reforms that truly increase access and decrease costs." the Veterans Memorial Hall is at 554 Rio Lindo Ave. in Chico. For more information or to RSVP, call LaMalfa's Oroville District Office at (530)-534-7100. Nielsen represents the Fourth Senate District, which includes Tehama county. Call him at 916.651.4004, or via email at senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov. LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, which includes Tehama County. Corning Healthcare District says good-by to Sherie Abel and welcomes Susan Price, according to President Guadalupe Green. Abel served on the Board for seven years and Green presented Abel with a certificate of appreciation for her seven years of service. During her terms in office Abel worked on ADA improvements and building the Meuser Memorial Health Center, on the corner of Marguerite Avenue and Solano Street in Corning. Abel is an advocate for ADA compliance and safety. Due to Abel's personal efforts and those of John Brewer, the Public Works director of Corning in 2011, the railroad tracks on South Street in Corning were repaired to allow wheelchairs to safely cross the intersection. Price joined the Corning Healthcare District Board in August, but is not new to public service. She has served six years with the federal government as a U.S. Senate staff member for two senators, eight and half years as a Community Development Coordinator Courtesy photo Susan Price is sworn in by Corning Healthcare District Manager Shirley Fay. for Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP), and 20 years in California city and county management. "My extensive experience in finance, budgeting, grant writing, personnel and management of multidepartmental organizations will be of benefit to the Corning Healthcare District," Price said. Corning Healthcare District's mission is to bring Health related services to the south part of the County. The district has a suite of offices available at 175 Solano St. "We keep our rent at or below cost in order to attract health services to our District," said Manager Shirley Fay. The district can be reached at (530) 824-5451. GROWNEY MOTORS We Buy Used Cars paid for or not 1160 Main St. 527-1034