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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2010 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com Shootout Special Spartans vs. Cardinals Inside RED BLUFF Tennis Champs SPORTS 1B Mostly Sunny 90/58 Weather forecast 8B By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer Red Bluff’s process to dis- miss its finance director may take more than the couple of days officials had anticipated. Earlier this week, City Attor- ney Rick Crabtree would not confirm nor deny that the city had given Finance Director 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 City aims to terminate finance director Margaret Van Warmerdam a notice of proposed termination saying her paid administrative leave would probably only last days not months. Now the city is facing possi- ble litigation. In her response to the city’s notice of pending ter- mination, Van Warmerdam has threatened to sue the city, Crab- tree said. ‘The basis for the city’s many adverse actions against Margaret, and their timing, show a pattern of retaliation...’ Attorney Mark Vegh Van Warmerdam’s attorney, Mark Vegh, said in a letter dated Sept. 8, Van Warmerdam was informed that she was THC trial opens being placed on paid adminis- trative leave and the city was considering terminating her. The letter asks that she return keys, city documents and all other city property. She was given five days to provide the city with a response, the dead- line being Wednesday. See FINANCE, page 7A Corning extends collective ban Collective owner ejected from City Council meeting By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer CORNING — Mayor Gary Strack reported, at the beginning of Tues- day’s City Council meeting, on a closed session prior to the regular meeting that the council had reached a consensus not to do anything on interim Ordinance 637 at this time. The ordinance, Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb A scene from Tuesday night’s Corning City Council meeting, during which Kathy Prather, co- owner of Tehama Herbal Collective, was removed. A case involving the legality of the medical cannabis operation opened Wednesday morning. By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer CORNING — Tehama County courts heard testimony Wednesday that may determine the fate of the county’s sole remaining storefront- style medical cannabis collective. Five people — Ken and Kathy Prather, their daugh- ter Maegon Prather, Jason Labonte and collective vol- unteer Devota Ann Davis — are charged with violating city code by operating Tehama Herbal Collective, in Herzog to be paroled to Susanville prison grounds SACRAMENTO (AP) — California prison offi- cials say convicted killer Loren Herzog will be mov- ing to living quarters on the grounds of High Desert State Prison in Susanville. Herzog was nearly released to Tehama County in July, but actions on the part of Sheriff Clay Parker helped halt that action. In December 2001, Her- zog now 44, of Linden, was sentenced to 78-years-to- life — three consecutive 25- to-life terms plus three years — for being an accessory to a felony, for the murders of three people, Cyndi Vander- heiden, Paul Cavanaugh and Howard King, over 14 years. In 2004, a state appellate court threw out the three murder convictions and much of the evidence against Herzog. It led to a plea bargain and Herzog pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the 1998 killing of Vanderheiden. Herzog was sentenced to 14 years for voluntary manslaughter, three counts of being an accessory to a felony, and one count of giving a controlled sub- stance to Vanderheiden. Herzog was given credit for time served in county jail and state prison and is being released for time served, California Division of Adult Parole Operations spokesman Luis Patino said. The corrections depart- ment, in July, determined that Herzog would be released back into San Joaquin County on July 26. See HERZOG, page 7A 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 POWER PRODUCTS DOLMAR Red Bluff Outdoor Power Related story on the right spite of nearly a year’s worth of citations and warnings from the city. Attorney William Panzer, who helped author California’s medical marijuana laws and is representing the Prathers, attacked the city for what he called a “thinly veiled attempt to ban medical cannabis.” Planning Director John Stoufer, who denied the Prathers a business license, was first to take the stand. See TRIAL, page 7A which was approved at the July 27 meet- ing to be extended for one year starting on Aug. 6, temporarily bans medical mari- juana dispensaries, collectives and coop- eratives. ‘We have nothing to hide. We are a pharmacy for medical marijuana. Work with us. Don’t make us criminals’ Maegon Prather, THC Shortly after the closed session was reported, Ken and Kathy Prather of Tehama Herbal Collective addressed the council. Ken Prather said, following the Sept. 7 raid on the collective, he did not see a need for a search warrant when officers had been in the collective many times prior to the raid. “Each ticket represents several officers (who have been in the collective),” he said holding up a small box filled with pink slips. Prather said he didn’t understand why the council couldn’t make a timely decision and why it would want to make his family look like criminals. Kathy Prather was upset about the fact that her daughter, Maegon, had been harassed by officers whom See BAN, page 7A Private school has new leadership Special to the DN Amongst the returning students and faculty at Sacred Heart Parish School in Red Bluff are some new faces. Leslie Trujillo is the new principal of Sacred Heart. Trujillo’s new job encompasses oversight of the preschool through eighth grade programs. Her goals include increasing enrollment, providing an excellent education that focuses on preparing students for a four-year university and providing a spiritual edu- cation that is centered around the Catholic iden- tity that the school has always been known for, she said. Before coming to Sacred Heart, Trujillo taught art, math, science and Spanish at St. Joseph School in Redding. She served as the vice princi- pal of Bishop Quinn High School for eight years, from 1999-2007. This is the first time she will not have to per- form the role of adminis- trator and be in the class- room at the same time. Being only an adminis- trator allows Trujillo to See SCHOOL, page 7A Courtesy photo The new staff members at Sacred Heart Parish School include Principal Leslie Trujillo, back, Sarah Dodson, left, and Margaret Cahill. Red Bluff Daily News Saturday delivery will be late due to the football coverage. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you. D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY TEHAMA COUNTY REPUBLICANS ELECTION HEADQUARTERS OPEN HOUSE Sept. 18, 2010, 1-4 PM 645 Antelope Blvd. Suite 7 (next to M & M’s) Join us for cookies & punch LETS KICK-OFF THIS ELECTION Questions call County Chair, Ken Say, 529-1226 Sept. 17th & 18th Fri., Sept. 17th • 1-4PM Fantastic Deals! • Raffle Prizes Hourly Specials • Refreshments Live Remote w/KBLF GOLD EXCHANGE 423 Walnut St., Red Bluff 528-8000