Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/18113
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 20, 2010 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 8A RED BLUFF Reader Photos Athletes of the Week SPORTS 1B Sunny 84/50 Weather forecast 8B 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 Home grown Farm Day a hit with students By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Fourth-graders from all over Tehama County came to the Tehama Dis- trict Fairground Tuesday to learn about what is in their own backyard at the 15th annual Farm Day. “Overall it’s been a very successful day and we’re already looking for- ward to 2011,” said Tehama County Farm Bureau Manger Kari Dodd. “The purpose of the day is to teach our youth about agriculture and where their lunch is coming from.” The event, which drew 380 students, was spon- sored by the Farm Bureau, Northern Califor- nia Farm Credit and Red Bluff Kiwanis. Some of the success can be attributed to the partnership between the three groups, but a signif- icant part is the presenters and group leaders, Red Bluff FFA students this year, who did a wonderful job, Dodd said. Students had the chance to learn about a variety of information in agriculture from what crops are grown and exported from here to the various animals found in the area. Michael Vasey, a Farm Bureau director, spoke with students about the Impact fees vote pushed back By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer The Board of Supervisors will likely vote next week to charge developers for air quality improvement pro- jects despite overwhelming public opposition. On Tuesday a technicality pushed a fee vote back a week, when supervisors agreed to consider a revised proposal to charge developers “indirect source fees” to pay for projects to improve the county’s poor air quali- ty. Supervisors are scheduled to consider the matter Oct. 26. The proposal would introduce the fees at a half-rate through January 2012, after which the builders of new homes would be charged $344 and retail build- ings 80 cents per square foot. The charges were already reduced, some as much as 50 percent, from figures introduced in 2009. Three supervisors, enough to get the proposal through the board, expressed support for the proposal during the meeting, including two who gave their posi- tions in writing in advance of the meeting. Supervisors Charles Willard and Gregg Avilla previ- ously pledged support for the fees in an Oct. 13 letter to the board, citing potential health benefits, the threat of stricter restrictions from state and federal government and the possibility Prop. 26, if passed in November, would all but make charging the fees impossible. Prop. 26 would require a two-thirds supermajority in See VOTE, page 7A Wandering girl, brother removed from home Two children were Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Bidwell student Gabrielle Hayes takes a turn at learning to rope from Mike Brewer Tuesday at Farm Day at the Tehama District Fairground. tree crops found in Tehama County. Using an apple, which Vasey cut in four pieces he explained that only one of the four represented the amount of land on the Pipeline blast leads to call for greater scrutiny SACRAMENTO (AP) — California lawmakers investigating a deadly pipeline explosion said Tuesday they may need to change state law to increase penalties when utilities ignore problems that lead to injuries or death. During a legislative hearing, lawmakers criti- cized the state’s regulatory agency for not adequately overseeing decisions by Pacific Gas & Electric Co., the utility that owned the pipeline in the blast last month that killed eight in San Bruno. The state’s largest utili- ty had shifted money away from some high-risk repairs, including to the natural gas pipeline that exploded in the suburb south of San Francisco. Lawmakers said they also want to increase state oversight of utilities’ deci- sions about which gas pipeline sections need urgent repairs or replace- ment. ‘‘We have some sys- temic problems here,’’ said Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, chairman of the Senate Public Safety Com- mittee. The hearing was held jointly with the Sen- ate Energy, Utilities and Communications Commit- tee. Lawmakers criticized PG&E for repeatedly shifting priorities concern- ing the pipeline near San Bruno, including whether and when it would be replaced. They also blamed state regulators for not scrutinizing PG&E’s decisions. Legislators were upset that state regulatory agen- cies do not track utilities’ changes in priorities for pipeline replacements or repairs, or even check to make sure the repairs are completed. Officials from the California Public Utili- ties Commission said they allow utilities to decide where to spend the money they receive from ratepay- ers. ‘‘We kind of throw out money until some terrible tragedy occurs,’’ said Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, noting that money for the repair had been approved by the commission, then put to another use by the utility. State regulators, he said, seem to ‘‘cross their See BLAST, page 7A 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Red Bluff Outdoor Power earth. The piece repre- senting land was cut in half to take out the por- tion filled by mountains, desserts and ice caps. “Tehama County is blessed to have such good farm land,” Vasey said. “Tree crops are really important.” Of all the tree crops, walnuts, which bring in $60 million locally, were See FARM, page 7A taken into protective custody Saturday evening after a 3-year- old girl was found wan- dering along South Main Street. Red Bluff Police were notified of the girl walking the street at 6:52 p.m., but it wasn’t until about half an hour later that the girl’s mother, Rose Keisner, 28, of Red Bluff, called to report that her daugh- ter was missing, a Red Bluff Police Department release said. Officers contacted Keisner at her resi- dence, where they found her to be in a state of intoxication, the release said. Due to her intoxicat- ed state and unfit condi- tions of her residence, officers determined Keisner was unable to care for her daughter. The little girl and her 9- month-old brother were placed in Child Protec- tive Services custody. — Staff report Youth group honored by national exec By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Young Marines National Executive Director Mike Kessler, flying in from Washington D.C. for an Oct. 13 ceremony, had a surprise for the Tehama County unit when he pre- sented not one award, but two. The first was a re-presen- tation of the National Unit of the Year Award announced in May at an Adult Leadership Confer- ence. As the result of a year’s work on drug demand reduction, led by Carlin Bowles, Annie Bennett and Debbie Ortiz, the unit won the 2010 Fulcrum Shield Award, which is given to a military-based youth group that works as a unit to reduce drug problems in the community. The group’s selection for the Fulcrum Shield helped in the unit’s selection as the National Unit of the Year, Kessler said. “Congrats on a job well done,” Kessler said. “This unit has done amazing things. I don’t think anyone was surprised when the Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Tehama County Young Marines GY Sgt. Mary Hurton receives the news that she has won the Jimmy Trimble Scholarship at a ceremony Wednesday. National Unit of the Year Award was announced.” While the unit was not able to win the award a sec- ond time, it had a major impact on the 2011 Fulcrum Shield competition, with many more Young Marines units competing than usual, Kessler said. “I’m so proud of this unit,” Kessler said. “This Birthday Happy 1st Paige Chain Love Nana and Papa Daily News Saturday print delivery will be late due to football coverage …but now you can read the Saturday paper online after 8:00 am Saturday mornings www.redbluffdailynews.com Click on Digital Edition year’s contestants took a lead from this unit.” Part of the unit’s success can be attributed to its lead- ers, especially Unit Com- mander John Minton, Kessler said. “The unit is very well led by a guy who really cares and a staff who really cares,” Kessler said. “They’re behind the Young Marines 100 percent. If it wasn’t for the volunteers (the Young Marines) wouldn’t be here today.” Minton said he and his leaders are proud of the group. “Out of all the military- affiliated youth groups they selected this unit from a See YOUTH, page 7A PHYSICIAN REFERRAL A FREE SERVICE PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE 1-800-990-9971 CHW North State Region