Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/212214
WEEKEND NOVEMBER 16-17 2013 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com A Day at the Museum Ag Page 6A DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Mostly sunny 64/41 Weather forecast 10A TEHAMA COUNTY $1.00 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 RBUHS teachers vote no confidence in leadership By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer The Red Bluff Joint Union High School Teachers Association has given a vote of no confidence in its district leadership, specifically identifying Superintendent Lisa Escobar. The Association issued a press release Friday afternoon announcing the results of its vote. Fifty-five teachers voted in support of the vote of no confidence. Six voted against it, seven abstained and 14 did not vote at all. The vote has been included as an agenda item for Wednesday's Board of Trustees meeting under Audience with the public and public hearings. The Public Session portion of the agenda is scheduled to begin no earlier than 5:15 p.m. at the District Office Board Room, 1525 Douglass St. Escobar told the Daily News Friday she had no comment Friday afternoon. Trustee Marianne Willard said she was aware of the vote, but that it would be inappropriate to comment on the matter Friday afternoon. "We are sad, angry, and frus- Giving a lift trated that Ms. Escobar's ineffectiveness has caused such dysfunction in our district and possible damage to our students' educational experiences," the Association's press release said. See TEACHERS, page 9A City to take up leaf burning By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer The Red Bluff City Council is scheduled to once again address the issue of leaf burning within city limits when it meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday. At its meeting Oct. 15 the City Council directed city staff to prepare an ordinance that would ban the practice. That ordinance was presented to the council Nov. 5 in two forms — a regular ordinance, which would have required a second reading and a 30-day wait until it took effect, and an urgency ordinance that could take See LEAF, page 9A Forum stresses need for health insurance By ANDRE BYIK DN Staff Writer Daily News photo by Rich Greene The Recycle The Warmth jacket and blanket giveaway remained a popular attraction at this year's LIFT Tehama event held Friday at the Tehama District Fairground. By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer It wasn't just a day of handouts at Friday's LIFT Tehama event. Organizers of the event, now in its fourth year, conservatively estimated more than 350 would wander through the Tehama District Fairground. They were met by a team of more than 100 volunteers who not only oversaw the Recycle The Warmth clothes drive, but provided a range of services from helping underprivileged people get proper legal paperwork to quick dental and medical checkups. Some even took advantage of free haircuts and pedicures. "This whole day is helping people get what they need to move forward," said Tehama County Continuum of Care Chairwoman Gail Locke. Sometimes that's just a blanket or coat to get through the winter, for others it's a chance to learn about employment opportunities for veterans or a chance to sit down with a counselor. The services being offered at LIFT Tehama continue to grow each year and often include what gets overlooked by those who have more — access to a photocopy machine, some basic hygiene kits or a tuneup of a bicycle. One woman in a wheel-chair simply needed a push through the See LIFT, page 9A It could be time consuming, frustrating, and take a bit of research, but a forum that featured Covered California agents and local health care professionals conveyed Thursday that people need to get health insurance and learn about how Obamacare affects the health insurance landscape. During an informational panel at the Red Bluff Community and Senior Center, John Pruitt, a Covered California educator, said the state's health insurance exchange website hasn't been riddled with the glitches that have plagued the federal website, healthcare.gov. "There are 38 million different insurance stories out there," Pruitt said, referring to the state's population. "And rest assured that the ones you are hearing about in the news are the most outrageous and the scariest and the most awful stories." Pruitt conceded that the process does take a while, but said coveredca.com, the state's website where Californians can shop for health insurance or find if they're eligible for Medicaid, works better than the federal website. See FORUM, page 9A Health exchanges slow Agency to attract young, healthy celebrates LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fears that insurance exchanges that are the linchpin of President Barack Obama's federal health care overhaul wouldn't attract the young, healthy people needed to make them financially viable are being heightened by the early results of signups in several states. If it becomes a trend, that could lead to increases in insurance premiums and deductibles next year. Along with the paltry enrollment numbers released this week, officials in a handful of states said those who had managed to sign up were generally older people with medical problems — those with the greatest incentives to get coverage. It's unclear whether that will persist. Young, healthy people may be more inclined to procrastinate, especially given doubts about the law's technically flawed online signup system. They have until Dec. 15 to sign up if they want to be covered on Jan. 1. Insurers have warned that they need a wide range of people signing up for coverage because See HEALTH, page 9A first 15, new digs The Red BluffTehama County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting Friday during the grand opening of First 5 Tehama's new office at 332 Pine St. First 5 Tehama is "Celebrating Fifteen Years For Kids: Investing For a Lifetime!" Stop by and visit the new location and learn about all the hard work done by community partners and the work still ahead to ensure Tehama County children grow up healthy and ready to learn. Courtesy photo Pictured are Denise Snider, First 5 Tehama executive director; Rhonda Meadows-Searcy, First 5 Tehama commission assistant;Valerie Lucero,TC Health Services Agency executive director and past First 5 Tehama commission chairwoman; Tony Cardenas, First 5 Tehama commissioner; Paula Brown-Almond, Past First 5 Tehama commissioner; Mary Anne Willard, past First 5 Tehama commissioner; Kathy McGuinness, former NCCDI executive director; Michelle Barnard, School Readiness coordinator; Ulanda Hinkston, CARES Plus assistant; Tara Ottolini, assistant; Dave Hencratt,Tehama County Sheriff; Rick Crabtree, Red Bluff city manager; Chris Goddard, Chamber director; Cody HoughtonMarshall, Chamber director; Kitt Condrey-Miller, Chamber ambassador.