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WEDNESDAY Outlaws Are SEPTEMBER 25, 2013 ShaqRamento Coming Fair Pages Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Pages 6A and 7A SPORTS 1B DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Mostly sunny 70/49 Weather forecast 10B 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 County balks at listings Hearing bumped in murder case By ANDRE BYIK DN Staff Writer A 22-year-old Red Bluff man accused of murder in the death of a near-8-month-old baby on Mother's Day had his arraignment continued Tuesday at Tehama County Superior Court. Brandon Ericson Branscombe, who is in custody at the Tehama County Jail, appeared with attorney Leo Barone at the county courthouse. Barone requested added time to review the case, and See CASE, page 9A Cops plan K-9 fundraiser Saturday US Fish and Wildlife photo Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer The Tehama County Board Chambers echoed like a 1960s children's folk song for a time Tuesday as discussion turned to yellowlegged frogs, black-backed woodpeckers and Yosemite toads. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking input on an intent to list the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog, Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frog, Yosemite Toad and two populations of black-backed woodpeckers as endangered or threatened species. The move would also designate critical habitat areas for the special status species. The latter part has drawn the attention of the Tehama County Board of Supervisors, which approved Chairman Dennis Garton to sign two letters to the Department of Fish and Wildlife firmly opposing the listings citing "potential irreparable damage" to the local economy. "Critical habitat designations will restrict land access and can limit or even forbid activities such as grazing, trout stocking, logging, mining and recreational use resulting in a devastating impact on our economy and other affected northern California counties," one letter reads. The letter urges wildlife officials to continue with recovery programs in southern California. Yellow-Legged Frogs A distinct population segment of Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frogs in southern California are already listed as endangered. The proposed rule change would add See COUNTY, page 9A DN Staff Report The Red Bluff Police Department on Saturday will be hosting its primary canine fundraiser for the year. Red Bluff police are hosting Dog Gone Run and Ride at the Sacramento River Discovery Center at 1000 Sale Lane, according to a department press release. The event includes long and short duathlons and a 5K run. The event, which is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m., is aimed to ensure the department's canine program remains funded for future years. Red Bluff police say through donations and the generosity of the community the department was able to implement its canine program and acquire its K9, Many. The department encourages participants to arrive between 7 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. to pick up registration packets and check in. The short duathlon will be a 2-mile run, 3-mile bike ride and concludes with a 2-mile run. The long route will be a 2-mile run, 8-mile bike ride and 2-mile run. A twoperson relay option is available for the long duathlon. A mountain bike is required for the duathlon events as there are sections on dirt trails. The 5K run is a flat route on pavement and dirt trails. Event flyers and registration forms can be obtained at the Red Bluff Police Department, its website at rbpd.org, or any area fitness centers. Guilty plea in Round-Up delivers check for breast cancer Oregon in 2008 fatal copter crash PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon man has pleaded guilty to fraud in connection with the deadliest helicopter crash involving working firefighters in U.S. history. Levi Phillips, 46, of Grants Pass faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced in April. As part of a plea deal, he agreed to testify against another man, 42-year-old Steven Metheny of Central Point. Phillips was the director of maintenance for Carson Helicopters Inc., reporting directly to Metheny, a former vice president. Prosecutors say that when the U.S. Forest Service solicited bids for helicopters to be used in firefighting operations, Metheny submitted proposals with altered performance charts and falsified weight and balance records. Then, after winning the $20 million contract, the incorrect information was given to pilots who had to calculate the maximum payload capacity during firefighting operations. The Aug. 5, 2008, crash near Weaverville, Calif., killed the pilot, a 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Forest Service safety inspector and seven firefighters with Grayback Forestry of Merlin. The co-pilot and three firefighters were hurt. Witnesses said the helicopter took off more slowly than normal before clipping trees and then crashing into a hillside. A National Transportation Safety Board investigation showed the Sikorsky S-61N helicopter weighed more than 19,000 pounds when pilots tried to take off from a mountaintop clearing during the Iron 44 wildfire in Shasta-Trinity National Forest. If Forest Service guidelines had been followed, investigators said, the weight shouldn't have exceeded 15,840 pounds. Phillips pleaded guilty Monday guilty in U.S. District Court in Medford to a single charge of defrauding the Forest Service. The plea was first reported by the Mail Tribune newspaper (http://bit.ly/15pfTjT). Metheny remains charged with 22 counts of mail and wire fraud, making false statements to the Forest Service, endangering the safety of aircraft in flight, and theft from an interstate shipment. A Portland jury ruled last year that a problem with an engine was See CRASH, page 9A Daily News photo by Chip Thompson Red Bluff Round-Up Rodeo Director Jolene Keeman, second from left, presents a check Monday morning for $25,000 to Sister Pat Manoli, director of Mission Integration for St. Elizabeth Community Hospital. The check represents the proceeds from the Round-Up's Tough Enough to Wear Pink auction held on Sunday during the rodeo. This year's auction items, provided by Haleakala Ranch, were a custom pendant and a trip to Las Vegas. The money will help fund the purchase of a new ultrasound machine for breast cancer detection at the hospital's Imaging Center. Also pictured are Sue Ampi, left, of Mercy Foundation North, and St. Elizabeth President Todd Smith. Celebrate Customer Service in October! Open House with the California Common Core State Standards September 25, 2013 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm Smog Inspection $ 2595 +$825 certificate (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) Presentation at 5:00 pm Featuring presenters from Safeway, Hampton Inn & Suites, Rolling Hills Casino and the Job Training Center Thursday, October 3rd 7:30am-9am Rolling Hills Casino, Carlino's Event Center, Corning Tehama County Department of Education Library • Members Welcome Refreshments will be served Larry Champion, Tehama County Superintendent of Schools Customer Service and Your Frontline Staff Workshop 530 527-9841 195 S. Main St., Red Bluff $20.00 per person (breakfast included) (No charge for members of the Tehama County Employer Advisory Council) Call 529-7000 for more information