Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/203028
THURSDAY Shaffer Takes 1st OCTOBER 31, 2013 Breaking news at: SPORTS 1B www.redbluffdailynews.com DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Sunny 77/47 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 DA: Right man charged Farm-City Night set for Monday The annual Farm-City Night banquet is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 4, at the Red Bluff Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. Chris Bauer from the Tehama County Museum in Tehama will be the featured speaker. The evening starts with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and awards starting at 7:30 p.m. The Tehama County Farm Bureau and several community organizations will present the following awards: Volunteer of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Woman of the Year, Boardperson of the Year, Young Farmer of the Year, Outstanding Public Service, Teacher of the Year, Business Person of the Year and Farmer of the Year. See NIGHT, page 7A Art Association to exhibit Art Walk Daily News photo by Rich Greene Tehama County District Attorney Gregg Cohen speaks to the media Wednesday. By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer Tehama County District Attorney Gregg Cohen spoke to the media Wednesday affirming his position that the right person is being charged in the homicide of Red Bluff teenager Marysa Nichols. "The man responsible for the death of the 14-year-old female victim found alone and abandoned in a wooded area behind Red Bluff High School on Feb. 28, 2013 is currently in custody and is properly charged with her murder," Cohen said. Cohen's press conference came in response to stories produced by the Redding Record-Searchlight and KRCR that focused on an individual DNA sample found on Nichols' chest. The DNA sample, referenced in a defense motion asking for a delay of Quentin Bealer's preliminary trial, was not a match for Bealer. To read Cohen's complete prepared statement visit redbluffdailynews.com "The defense has steered the media towards a single item of evidence while other items of evidence which have also yielded DNA results have been seemingly overlooked," Cohen said. "Unfortunately this one piece of DNA evidence has been misinterpreted by one or more members of the press. "That's one sample obtained from Marysa," Cohen later said in a response to a question. "There were other samples that were obtained as well that have yielded DNA results." Cohen said some media reports had also interpreted the silence from Red Bluff Police Department Calif. recycling law lacks oversight SACRAMENTO (AP) — Seeking to reduce the number of plastic shopping bags cluttering California's beaches and landfills, the state Legislature in 2006 passed a law requiring grocery stores and other large retailers to give consumers an easy way of returning used bags. Stores handing out plastic bags to customers were directed to collect used bags for recycling and make reusable bags available for purchase. Seven years later, recycling bins continue to sit outside California stores, but it's virtually impossible to know whether the law is working: The agency in charge of the recycling program can't say how many bags are being recycled or whether the program has affected demand, factors that could help state lawmakers in weighing proposals to ban the product. Stores are required to submit annual reports detailing how many bags were bought by the store, how many were returned by consumers and which 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 recyclers processed them, yet the state recycling department cannot say how many stores are complying. A review by The Associated Press found data has not been analyzed since 2009, two years after the law took effect. Then, 3 percent of California's plastic bags were being recycled, a 1 percentage point increase from the previous year. While totals of bags purchased and recycled during the last three years were made available after an AP request, Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery spokesman Mark Oldfield said those numbers have not been verified so the official recycling rate can be updated. He said the program lacks resources to analyze recent reports. No fees are charged to bag manufacturers, recyclers or retailers to help pay for staff. While the law allows for fines if stores do not comply, no violations have been issued. ''Work on the program at this point consists of a few weeks of data entry by entry-level staffers when the reports come in during the spring,'' Old- See LAW, page 7A and District Attorney's Office to mean there is a lack of evidence in the case. Cohen said he has an ethical obligation to not release factual information about the specifics of the case outside a courtroom. He said as part of the judicial system his work was to protect the rights of the accused, deceased and her family. "I would love to satisfy everyone's interest and curiosity by releasing a detailed, factual, report about the case. But like all things in life there is a proper time and proper place for the facts and evidence to be presented — that's at the preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for Jan. 23, 2014." Cohen said the delay of the preliminary hearing to January, based on Bealer's arrest in March, was typical for a murder case. "You guys all involved in the media have your job it's just that See DA, page 7A Courtesy photo Betsy Larimer, left, and Chrissie Clapp view art work on the newly acquired display panels. The Red Bluff Art Association is making final preparations for its largest fine arts exhibit of the year at the 11th annual Art Walk 5-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 at 623 Main St. — formerly Heartfelt Designs. Friday evening will feature a festive reception with music by the band Flashback. There will be tables of finger foods and wine poured by Burnsini Vineyard. "RBAA is very excited to be participating," says President Kathy Brehm. "This year we have 33 members who will be exhibiting their works. Also, we will use new display panels, lights and pedestals purchased with the grant monies received from the McConnell Foundation." See ART, page 7A Ag Expo planned here in 2014 By ANDRE BYIK DN Staff Writer CORNING — A North State nonprofit plans to hold an agricultural exposition in Tehama County next year, and it received a $25,000 grant Wednesday to aid in the effort. The Upstate California Development Council in fall 2014 plans to hold its inaugural Food Expo, which will bring Northern California agricultural producers and growers face-to-face with potential buyers, said Brynda Stranix, Upstate's president and chief operating officer. Stranix said after a successful string of "speeddating" events that last year brought producers and buyers together in the Yuba-Sutter, Redding and Chico areas, the nonprofit expects its food expo to expand on that idea. "In the case of the Yuba-Sutter event ... there were 99 business deals made on the spot," she said. "So it's really an opportunity for our local, smaller, niche producers to meet with buyers and make deals where they might not otherwise have the opportunity to meet with those folks." Stranix said she sees the food expo attracting such buyers as grocery stores, hospitals, and Daily News photo by Andre Byik Upstate California president Brynda Stranix, right, accepts a $25,000 grant awarded by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. on Wednesday at The Inn at Rolling Hills Casino in Corning. PG&E economic development manager Josh Townsend, middle, and Upstate California Vice President Marc Nemanic are also pictured. schools from throughout the state. "Anybody that's buying big quantities of products," Stranix said. Stranix said Tehama County is the right fit for the food expo — likely to be scheduled for November next year — as it's in the center of Upstate California's 20-county service area that spans from El Dorado to Siskiyou counties. "We are all ag," she said. "That's the one real constant with all 20 counties is we have an ag base." Pacific Gas and Electric Co. presented the nonprofit with an oversized check in the amount of $25,000 at The Inn at Rolling Hills Casino in Corning after considering nearly 200 applicants for 10 "economic vitality" grants, PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno said. Moreno said Upstate California displayed the need and ability to spur economic development in the region. The utility provider plans to make nearly $2.5 million worth of charitable commitments to ecoSee EXPO, page 7A