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MONDAY JANUARY 3, 2011 Breaking news at: Group Acupuncture Vitality www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 6A RED BLUFF Strong Finish SPORTS 1B Mostly Sunny 51/32 Weather forecast 6B By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The causes of two New Year’s Eve structure fires that started with- in a half hour of each other Friday in Red Bluff is still under investiga- tion. The second fire shut down Main Street for several hours. The first, a fire on Lassen Avenue between Jackson Street and Cascade Avenue, displaced a fami- ly while the second, a fire in the 1100 block of Main Street was a business. The Lassen Avenue fire, in 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 Friday fires probed which two homes in the 800 block of Lassen caught fire, was reported at 3:32 p.m. and contained by 4:10 p.m. The residence at 825 Lassen Ave. sustained major damage and is uninhabitable. A family of five was displaced and will be staying with relatives, CalFire Capt. John Wilson said. No injuries to humans were reported, however, one dog and two cats per- ished in the fire despite attempts by neighbors and firefighters to rescue them. Red Bluff Fire was assisted by CalFire, Tehama County Fire, Red Man killed in solo spinout A fatal New Year’s Eve crash in the Los Molinos area about 2:55 p.m. Friday on Tehama Vina Road claimed the life of a 21-year-old Red Bluff man. The driver, Caleb Krick, was driving his 2000 Ford F-150 east on Tehama Vina Road at an unknown high rate of speed, said CHP Acting Sgt. Ryan Ham. As Krick approached a right-hand curve on Tehama Vina Road, east of Sherwood Boulevard, he drifted into See SOLO, page 5A Brown will need political know-how SACRAMENTO (AP) — Jerry Brown, the enig- matic former governor who always seemed to be eyeing his next political post, returns to the state capital this week to lead a much different California than the one he oversaw 28 years ago. The state’s finances are in a deep hole, term limits mean he will be dealing with a revolving door of lawmakers eyeing their next election, political polarization has all but paralyzed the Capitol, and the state’s population is larger and far more diverse than when he left the governor’s office in 1983. After convincing Cali- fornians last November that they need an elder statesman to guide them through the state’s fiscal abyss, the 72-year-old vet- eran politician will have to overcome the hyper-parti- sanship that has overtaken political discourse in Sacramento. The Democrat and out- going state attorney gener- al has promised an austere future as he prepares to become California’s 39th governor. The state faces a $28 billion budget short- fall through June 2012, and multibillion-dollar shortfalls are projected for the foreseeable future. Brown is calling for ‘‘shared sacrifice’’ from all sides: Republicans, Democrats, unions and business leaders. That could mean ask- ing voters to extend the temporary income, sales and vehicle taxes that were approved in 2009 and are scheduled to expire in July, a politically risky ploy that would require voter approval just a year after voters rejected See BROWN, page 5A Bluff Police and PG&E. The second fire, reported at 4:09 p.m. at Tehama Auto Center, for- merly Red Bluff Dodge, was a total loss with preliminary estimates being between $800,000 and $900,000. Firefighters spent about 20 min- utes attempting to put the fire out from within before signs the roof was starting to collapse forced them to take the battle outdoors. “It was too much fire, too quick,” said Red Bluff Fire Chief Michael Bachmeyer. See FIRES, page 5A Photo courtesy of Beau Ferchaud Firefighters work to control a blaze that broke out about 4 p.m. Friday at Tehama Auto Center on Main Street in Red Bluff. Know when to run Photo courtesy of Ken Otto of Otto Graphics Jacquelynn Grisham holds her ground Friday night in Cowboy Poker during the National Bullriding Championship at the Tehama District Fairground. By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The number 666 was a lucky one for Keith Roquemore of Cotton- wood, who won the annual New Year’s Eve National Bullriding Championship Friday at the Tehama District Fairground. As winner of the event, produced by Diamond W Productions, Roquemore was presented with a gold belt buckle with rubies and other precious gems worth about $5,000 by Executive Director David Halimi. Roquemore was originally reported as a having a no score after a ride on a bull named Boomarang, however, he was given a re-ride on bull number 666 and came up with an 82 to advance to the finals, where he scored an 84 on Pickup Man to seal the deal. The bulls were tough on bullrid- ers — of the 25 who started out in the competition only seven would score and only the top six would make it into the final round. Jordan Spears of Redding scored the highest of the night with an 85 in the first round on a bull named Crabman to advance, but came up short with a score of 82 in the final round on a bull named Poker Face. The remaining riders — Brady Williams of Snelling on the bull Elvis, Josh Daries of Salinas on the See RUN, page 5A Girl, boy split first Tehama County baby of 2011 honors By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer It was a race to the fin- ish line at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital Sat- urday morning to see who would be the first Tehama County baby of the year, with only four minutes separating the two con- tenders. Luck was on the side of a Gerber couple when their baby girl, Yazmin Ana Layson, was born at 8:03 a.m., however, both couples are winners and will be receiving gifts. Joseph Layson and Anabell Tapia are the proud parents of Yazmin, their first child. “We were excited,” said Joseph Layson. “We didn’t think she’d be the first baby of the year, but she was and it’s cool.” Layson said the basket full of goodies will defi- Fesler and Jeremy Galvez of Corning at 8:07 a.m. Liam weighed in at 6 pounds, 14 ounces and was 19 inches long. “We were really shocked (to have the first baby boy of the year), but it was good,” said Angela Fesler. Fesler, who was born at St. Elizabeth herself, said baby Liam was the first for her and the father who had been there through the whole deliv- ery, but had gone home for some rest afterwards. “He wasn’t supposed to be here until Jan. 12,” said Liam’s grandmother, Betsy Fesler of Corning. Betsy Fesler said Liam Daily News photos by Julie Zeeb Joseph Layson and Anabell Tapia of Gerber show off Tehama County’s first baby of 2011, their daughter Yazmin Ana Layson, born at 8:03 a.m. Jan. 1 at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital. 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 nitely be a help. Baby Yazmin, who weighed in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 19.5 Angela Fesler of Corning and her mother Betsy Fesler of Corning show off baby Liam Alexander Galvez, who was Tehama County’s first baby boy of the year. inches long, is welcomed by grandparents Paula Layson of Red Bluff and Ana and Ramon Tapia of Gerber. The first boy of the year was Liam Alexander Galvez born to Angela is the first grandchild for her and her husband and they are excited that he has arrived. Welcoming baby Liam are Betsy and Tommy Fesler of Corning and Deborah Torres of Corn- ing. Once again the gen- erosity of Tehama County See BABY, page 5A