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THURSDAY Memorial Niners Prep For Packers Concert Set SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 Pastimes Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 6A SPORTS 1B DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Sunny 89/60 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 Obama wins Senate panel's backing on Syria strike WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's request for speedy congressional backing of a military strike in Syria advanced Wednesday toward a showdown Senate vote, while the commander in chief left open the possibility he would order retaliation for a deadly chemical weapons attack even if Congress withheld its approval. Legislation backing the use of force against President Bashar Assad's government cleared the Senate Foreign Relations Com- mittee on a 10-7 vote after it was stiffened at the last minute to include a pledge of support for ''decisive changes to the present military balance of power'' in Syria's civil war. It also would rule out U.S. combat operations on the ground. The measure is expected to reach the Senate floor next week, although the timing for a vote is uncertain. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky conservative with strong tea party ties, has threatened a filibuster. 'I always preserve the right and responsibility to act on behalf of America's national security' — President Barack Obama The House also is reviewing Obama's request, but its timetable is even less certain and the measure could face a rockier time there. The administration blames Assad for a chemical weapons attack that took place on Aug. 21 Jail to get new roof and says more than 1,400 civilians died, including at least 400 children. Other casualty estimates are lower, and the Syrian government denies responsibility, contending rebels fighting to topple the government were to blame. The Senate panel's vote marked the first formal response in Congress, four days after Obama unexpectedly put off an anticipated cruise missile strike See SYRIA, page 5A Siskiyou county votes for secession from state YREKA (AP) — Supervisors in a far Northern California county where residents are fed up with what they see as a lack of representation at the state capitol and overregulation have voted in favor of separating from the state. The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors voted 41 on Tuesday for a declaration of secession, the Record Searchlight of Redding reported. The vote appears mostly symbolic since secession would require approval from the state Legislature and the U.S. Congress, but supporters say it would restore local control over decision making. They want other rural counties in See COUNTY, page 5A State seeks to shelve current standardized tests Daily News photo by Rich Greene Construction supplies sit atop the Tehama County Jail roof as a near $1 million project is underway to stop the leaking and replace HVAC units. By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer A near $1 million renovation project is underway to fix the leaking Tehama County Jail's roof. Work began last week on the project, which consists of the demolition and replacement of old builtup roofing on the original jail and single ply roofing on the jail addition. As the initial plans were being finalized, the Tehama County Board of Supervisors approved an additional expense of around $250,000 to replace 13 heating, ventilation and air conditioning units and six exhaust fans along with related plumbing and electrical work. That work was added on when officials discovered without replacement of the HVAC units, ranging from 15 to 20 years, the units' curb mounting would not allow for adequate roofing protection. The project includes a small asbestos cleanup. Administrative Services Director Julie Sisneros said besides the main construction bid, contracts were awarded for a mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, abatement and on-site inspector. Combined, Sisneros estimated the price tag to be around $925,000. The main construction bid was warded to United Building Contractors in Chico for $742,000. Rich Greene can be reached at 527-2151, ext. 109 or rgreene@redbluffdailynews.com. BERKELEY (AP) — California education officials proposed Wednesday to immediately do away with the standardized reading, math and social science tests used to measure student learning and school performance since the late 1990s. Instead of giving the multiple-choice, penciland-paper STAR tests in those subjects this spring, the state would introduce new language and math tests that are administered on computers and have been developed with other states, California Deputy Superintendent Deb Sig- man told the California Board of Education. The state previously had planned only to sample the new tests, an outgrowth of the national Common Core curriculum standards that have been adopted by 45 states, with about 20 percent of California's 3.3 million public school students. The accelerated timeline is aimed at quickly moving teachers and students toward the types of lessons and materials measured by the more rigorous tests, which officials See TESTS, page 5A Volunteer guide Red Bluff Junior Round-Up Queen Contest By ANDRE BYIK training at Coleman Hatchery DN Staff Writer This fall season, the Chinook salmon are heading up the Sacramento River and north state children are heading back to school. Come October, the salmon and the school kids on their field trips will meet at Coleman National Fish Hatchery (CNFH). That's when the fun starts and the CNFH Friends Group volunteers get busy. If this sounds like a volunteering experience you are interested in, come at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20 for an orientation session. More than 80 schools make CNFH their field trip destination during salmon spawning season. More than 4,000 students of all ages enjoy the guided tours that the CNFH 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Friends Group volunteers conduct. These tours are held 3 days per week from the first of October through mid November. At times, there are huge numbers of tour groups — sometimes up to 800 students in a single morning. The students are informed about the functions and purpose of the hatchery and the life cycle of the salmon. The hatchery offers guided hikes on the 2mile Battle Creek Salmon Trail where the children view wildlife, learn about riparian plants and have the opportunity to see the salmon in Battle Creek. Even though the busy season corresponds with the arrival of the Chinook salmon in the fall, guides are developing activities for the rest of the year. The group volunteers are a group of about 30 people. There many more See GUIDE, page 5A It's good to be queen. The annual Miss Red Bluff Junior Round-Up Queen Contest, which is held annually and supports the sport of rodeo, will hold its coronation dinner 6-8 p.m. today at the Tehama District Fairground. The event precedes the largest junior rodeo in California, the Red Bluff Junior Round-Up, which is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the fairgrounds. The contest crowns senior and junior queens, and this year it yielded three contestants; Alyssa Shank, 14, of Red Bluff, Kyrstlynn Bishop, 10, of Cottonwood, and Taylor O'Reilly, 11, of Cottonwood. Shank, who held the title of Junior Queen in 2012 and is up for Senior Queen, is the daughter of Les and Stacy Shank. An aspiring veterinarian and Red Bluff Union High School sophomore, Alyssa says a rodeo queen's responsibilities Shank Bishop O'Reilly Courtesy photos Alyssa Shank, 14, of Red Bluff, is up for Senior Queen in the 2013 Red Bluff Junior Round Up Queen Contest, which will hold its coronation dinner from 6-8 p.m. today at the Tehama District Fairground. Kyrstlynn Bishop, 10, and Taylor O'Reilly, 11, both of Cottonwood, are up for Junior Queen. include representing the Western way of life and being a role model to youths in the community. Bishop, who currently holds the title of Little Miss California State Horsemen Association for Region 18 and is up for Junior Queen, is the daughter of Adam and Heather Bishop. Kyrstlynn, a West Cottonwood School student who also aspires to be a veterinarian, says her past experience in royalty positions would serve her well as an ambassador for the Junior Round-Up. O'Reilly, whose goal is to become a veterinarian and a professional barrel racer, is the daughter of Lindsey O'Reilly and Casey Palmer. Taylor, an Evergreen Middle School student, says she wants to inform people about rodeo events and would perform her duties in a professional manner. The contestants went through horsemanship, speech, and appearance and personality competitions on Sunday, said JenSee QUEEN, page 5A