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TUESDAY OCTOBER 15, 2013 Mosquito Alternatives Gridiron Wrap Vitality Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 4A SPORTS 1B DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Sunny 80/52 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 Hunter found in California forest ate squirrels Sas squat SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The 72-year-old hunter who was lost for more than two weeks in a Northern California forest survived by eating squirrels and other animals he shot with his rifle and by making small fires and packing leaves and grasses around his body to stay warm, according to his family. Deer hunter Gene Penaflor was found Saturday in Mendocino National Forest by other hunters who carried him to safety in a makeshift stretcher, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Sunday. Penaflor had disappeared after heading out with a partner during the first week of deer hunting season in the rugged mountains of far Northern California, a trip he takes annually. ''He goes hunting every year, and he comes home every year,'' his daughter-in-law Deborah Penaflor said Monday outside Gene Penaflor's small home in San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood. ''We'd gotten a little complacent that he would always come back.'' Gene Penaflor had separated from his hunting partner for a couple of hours as usual to stalk deer. While they were apart, Gene Penaflor fell, hit his head and passed out, Deborah Penaflor said. He woke up after what appeared to be a full day unconscious, with his chin and lip badly gashed. He noticed fog and morning dew and realized he'd been out for a while, Deborah Penaflor said. Courtesy photo A large footprint of unknown origin was found on a property in west Tehama County, where a Bigfoot hunting crew on Friday and Saturday spent some time investigating the area after a potential sighting was reported. Below: Tom Biscardi, left, with a glow stick, looks for places to plant bait. Search for Bigfoot near Red Bluff goes south DN Staff Writer DN Staff Writer wealth through real estate. Over the years he grew tired of big city life, and people. In the late '90s he started his search for an area away from it all. He looked at locations in Medford, Ore., but eventually worked his way down to Tehama County, which was almost too close to the Bay Area, he said, adding that his wife still works there but visits often. His hilltop home is long with an addition that's unfinished. Large windows open the home Annual Farm City Bus Tour The Tehama County Farm Bureau is getting ready for our annual Farm-City Week Celebration. The 8th annual bus tour will kick-off the FarmCity festivities on the morning of Thursday, Oct. 24. There are four great presenters scheduled for the tour, covering a wide variety of Tehama County agriculture, from 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 City to mull computers, generator By RICH GREENE By ANDRE BYIK Out in west Tehama County — deep in the hills and off the grid — there's a hunt for the unknown. It began with Ken, a landowner of more than 200 acres in the area who declined to give his full name. Ken said on Sunday at his home that he has two mistresses: peace and quiet. To disturb that would destroy the privacy he's enjoyed over the past decade. Ken is a friendly man in his 60s whose beard is a mix of brown and gray wisps. He peppers his baritone speech with expletives and laughs. His previous life was in Silicon Valley, and he says he has his name on a patent related to the TV guide that pops up when you hit the "Guide" button on your remote control. He says, however, that he's accumulated most of his See FOUND, page 7A walnut byproducts, olive oil and figs, to agritourism and dairy. Participants will learn about some of the top commodities in Tehama County and how they are produced, as well as how farmers and ranchers ensure that they are utilizing the most efficient means for their production. The tour begins with pastries and coffee at the Tehama County Farm Bureau office on Sale See TOUR, page 7A to a sweeping vista. At night, he says he can see the milk in the Milky Way. "I live in paradise," he says. Over the past month, however, Ken has noticed strange happenings on his property: wood chopped for firewood littering his gravel roadway; more wood from a fallen tree neatly stacked about a half-mile down the road; swinging outdoor furniture on his property toppled and moved about 15 feet toward his home. Ken has neighbors about a half-mile and a mile away, but they respect his privacy, he said. Gates chained closed with Master locks also aid in blocking access to outsiders. But about three weeks ago, Ken said he was relaxing by a creek that runs on his property when a large rock whooshed over his head and into a deep part of the water, making a large splash. About a minute later, See BIGFOOT, page 7A The Red Bluff City Council is scheduled to discuss the purchases of two items needed to run city services tonight. The city's computer hardware system that runs operations for the police and fire departments and Red Bluff CommunitySenior Center went down in July. A subsequent loaner system suffered from a hard drive crash Oct. 7 That prompted City Manager Richard Crabtree to approve the acquisition of a new system on an emergency basis. "The urgency for this repair cannot be overstated," Police Chief Paul Nanfito wrote in a staff report detailing the computer system's problems. The City Council will be asked to consider approving a 5-year lease for the equipment totaling $44,687 Existing Prop 30 money will cover part of the lease price, but should the state discontinue that funding in the future the city may have to rely on the General Fund to pay future monthly payments of $822. The city can purchase the equipment outright at the end of the lease. The City Council will also be asked to consider a replacement of City Hall's emergency generator. A recent power monitoring test showed the generator was near capacity with connections required for critical needs areas. City staff estimates the cost of a new generator to match the city's needs would be around $40,000. The generator would be paid for through the City Administration and Equipment Impact Fee Fund and have no impact on the General Fund. Rich Greene can be reached at 527-2151, ext. 109 or rgreene@redbluffdailyne ws.com. California spends big money on alternative energy LOS ANGELES (AP) — California has spent billions of dollars in recent years on alternative energy programs, even as education, public safety and other spending was cut, a newspaper reported. Over the years, state money has funded some failed projects and private companies with political ties, the Los Angeles T i m e s (http://lat.ms/16GLqlv) reported Sunday. ''Suddenly, you look up and there are literally hundreds of millions of dollars going into investments that produce marginal benefits,'' said state Sen. Roderick Wright, D- Inglewood, who sits on the Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. For example, California agencies are investing nearly $15 million to build hydrogen fueling stations, though there are little more than 200 hydrogen-powered vehicles in California. Other purchases include milk trucks that run on cow manure. Typically, projects are paid for with little-noticed consumer fees or small charges on electricity bills. A $3 fee on license plates is paying for the hydrogen fueling stations. State disbursements last year included $317 million for renewableenergy projects; about $250 million for advanced transportation projects; and $44 million for research grants, according to a report by the Legislative Analyst's Office. The programs make California an international leader in an emerging field, said Michael Peevey, president of the California Public Utilities Commission. ''We are on a mission to deal with climate change,'' he said. ''It is considered a great success story.'' His commission estimated that each year, the various fees add $24 to the average electric bill for a residence and $12 to the average gas bill. Much of the nearly $15 billion the state has spent on energy efficiency and See ENERGY, page 7A Smog Inspection $ 2595 +$825 certificate (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) • Members Welcome 530 527-9841 195 S. Main St., Red Bluff