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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2010 Breaking news at: Chiklis has the Power TV Select www.redbluffdailynews.com See Inside RED BLUFF Fair in Full Swing See 1B-6B Sunny 92/60 Weather forecast 6A By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer The Red Bluff Police Department could be short staffed if Police Chief Paul Nanfito does not sign on more officers right away. Six officers are seeking employment elsewhere. Two officers have already submitted resignations to take effect in early- and mid-October, and 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 6 officers slated to leave RBPD by year’s end another two will be gone by the end of the year. The department competes in the same employment market as law enforcement agencies in Butte and Shasta counties, and the local department is a little behind those in Chico and Red- ding, Nanfito said. Among the reasons officers ‘Toward the end of negotiations when we knew the city’s final position in what they were asking for in concession, I felt it would adversely affect the department provided for their departure is the 15 percent salary and bene- fit reduction that was approved in August, Nanfito said. and its ability to retain personnel’ Officer Gene Randall Officer Gene Randall, presi- Fairly educational dent of the Red Bluff Peace Officers’ Association said, “Toward the end of negotia- tions when we knew the city’s final position in what they were asking for in concession, I felt it would adversely affect the department and its ability to retain personnel.” Still, the association put together an offer it believed See RBPD, page 5A Cops seeking assault suspect Red Bluff police are on the lookout for a suspect in the beating of a Huntington man. Daniel Whitaker, 45, was hospitalized Wednesday night after a stranger reportedly assaulted him behind a Sutter Way business, Officer Gene Randall said. It is believed the attacker was unarmed and beat Whitaker until he was left with moderate facial injuries. Police first received reports of the attack around 9:15 p.m. Police have a suspicion as to what prompted the attack but are still investigating the matter, Randall said. The attacker was described as about 35 years old, bald, See COPS, page 5A Agencies to dedicate Battle Creek trail Special to the DN Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Katie Bianchi of Lucero Olive Oil talks to Los Molinos Elementary students about olive oil Wednesday at the Tehama District Fair Education Day. By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The Tehama District Fair had one of its biggest education days Thursday with 740 sixth-graders from all over Tehama County, but organizers said it also was one of the best. “It’s the biggest and best I’ve been involved in yet,” said Shelley McDon- ald. Part of the success were all the new presenters and stations, which kept the students’ attention, and the volunteers who helped out, said County Superin- tendent of Schools Larry Champion. “We had about 100 volunteers who helped instill a sense of community with kids of our county while they were learning about the agriculture industry, which is a major industry in Tehama County,” Champion said. “A good time was had by all.” Education Day goes hand in hand with the Tehama County Department of Education mission, which is to have schools and communities working well together and to show students the support the community has for the schools, he said. Largest union in Calif. endorses pot legalization SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A ballot measure that would legalize mari- juana in California won the support Tuesday of the largest union in the state. The 700,000-member Service Employees Inter- national Union California has 15 locals representing workers in health care, building services and state and local government. The possibility of members operating phone banks, walking precincts and raising money makes the union a political pow- erhouse in the state and a strong ally for the Propo- sition 19 campaign. However, the endorse- ment letter from SEIU California president Bill Lloyd left unclear how much time and money the union would provide. Most union resources will go toward supporting Jerry Brown in the gover- nor’s race, Lloyd said, although he vowed mem- bers would help Proposi- tion 19 any way they can. Revenue raised by legalizing marijuana could help the state preserve jobs and avoid cuts to health care, home care, education and other ser- vices, he added. Proposition 19 calls for allowing adults to possess up to one ounce of mari- See POT, page 5A TEHAMA COUNTY GLASS for MOULE’S Fireplace Glass 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 515 Sycamore St. 529-0260 One of the most extraordinary things in this county is its exceptional amount of things produced in it, said Maywood Principal Jeff Harris. “Our sixth-graders look forward to this,” Harris said. “We also have stu- dents who are new to the country and are excited about learning the lan- guage and being a part of an American experience like this.” While all schools got to visit the Carnival rides, watch Bryan Gilles perform magic tricks and hear Mary Hart of Hart’s Reptile World speak, See FAIRLY, page 5A Representatives from both state and federal government will dedi- cate a new creekside hiking trail Sept. 30 to the children of Shasta and Tehama counties. The dedication ceremo- ny will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Coleman National Fish Hatchery (NFH) in Anderson. The two-mile Battle Creek Salmon Trail con- nects the hatchery, which is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), with the Battle Creek Wildlife Area, managed by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG). The trail was created by both agencies, with assis- tance from the Friends of Coleman NFH, to provide children with opportunities to connect with nature during their traditional class tours of the hatchery. Friends of Coleman NFH President Jack Blanke says he hopes this walking trail will give children and fami- lies another opportunity to explore the outdoors and see wildlife. “We hope to provide an opportunity for them to enjoy the fresh air and to photograph and make note of the plants and animals that intrigue them during their trip to the hatchery and the wildlife area,” Blanke said. During class visits, Hatchery Manager Scott Hamelberg wants to fos- ter a conservation ethic See TRAIL, page 5A Free guided hikes at Dye Creek Preserve Special to the DN The Nature Conser- vancy will host a series of free public hikes on a breathtaking preserve in the Red Bluff area, the 37,540-acre Dye Creek Preserve, located near Los Molinos. Because the preserve is a work- ing cattle ranch, the Conservancy’s semi- annual tours provide the public with an opportu- nity to view some of the region’s most spectacu- lar landscapes with knowledgeable and entertaining guides, pro- viding insight on many cultural, geological and biological points of interest. All events are held See HIKES, page 5A COMPUTER SKILLS! Thurs., Sept. 30 9:30am-12:00pm Cost $ 49.00 per person Job Training Center 718 Main St., • 529-7000 to reserve your spot! BASIC 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 October 4-8 Secret Shopping and Customer Service Bootcamp: Season IV - A Brand New Experience Bring this one hour training to your business by calling the Job Training Center at 529-7000