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FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 Sacred Heart Honor Roll Holiday Classic Education Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 4A SPORTS 1B DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Mostly sunny 60/41 Weather forecast 8A TEHAMA COUNTY 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 Sheriff's workshop By RICH GREENE RBPD seeks more volunteers DN Staff Report The Red Bluff Police Department said it is accepting applications for its Volunteers in Police Service program, according to a department press release. The program, which was established in November 2012, teaches volunteers basic CPR and first aid, defensive driving techniques, and history of law enforcement and laws during its 10-week VIPS academy, according to the release. Ten people were selected to attend the department's first VIPS academy, and eight graduated earlier this year, according to the release. After graduating from the academy, volunteers can expect further training that includes ride-alongs, and other training sessions before patrolling on their own. Red Bluff police said the program, through attrition, DN Staff Writer An idea to take a negative and turn it into a positive came to fruition Wednesday afternoon when the Tehama County Probation Department began delivering bicycles to needy children for holiday gifts. A handful of foster parents were the first to receive the renovated bicycles. They were all smiles as they loaded the soon-to-be presents into their vehicles outside the Day Reporting Center. "What 11-year-old wouldn't love it," one foster parent said. The Probation Department received about 150 donated bicycles for it's inaugural "Recycle your Cycle" program. Of those about half were children's bicycles. Around 35 of those had been fully repaired, restored or renovated by Wednesday afternoon as the department turned over the bicycles for distribution through the Salvation Army and Child Welfare Services. The holiday charity came about from the Probation Department's bicycle repair shop, a program put into place on the heels of the state's Public Safety Realignment Act. The program was designed to offer a form of transportation for people transitioning back into the workplace, while teaching them a skill in the process. It was made possible when the Probation Department hired Fred Avila, who previously owned Fast Wheels Bike Shop in Red Bluff. As the program grew more successful Day Reporting Center Facility DAILY 50¢ See RBPD, page 7A Former Redding man sentenced for indecent pictures Daily News photo by Rich Greene Juvenile Hall Counselor Fred Avila, Salvation Army Major Kit Wetter, Tehama County Chief Probation Officer Richard Muench, Sheriff Dave Hencratt and Social Services Director Charlene Reid pose with bicycles that were donated by the community and fixed up through the Day Reporting Center's bicycle repair shop. The bicycles are being distributed to needy children in Tehama County through the Salvation Army and Child Welfare Services. Administrator Shelly Pluime suggested the shop be used to restore bicycles for Christmas gifts for needy children. "Nobody really liked AB 109, (but) it's been See BIKES, page 7A SACRAMENTO — Joe Weldon Taylor, 34, formerly of Redding, was sentenced Thursday by Chief United States District Judge Morrison England Jr. to seven years and four months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release, for possessing child pornography, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. According to court documents, in January 2012, the FBI executed a search warrant at Taylor's apartment in Redding and found an iPod containing hundreds of images of child pornography. Taylor pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on Jan. 3. At sentencing, England observed that there was evidence in the record that Taylor had sexually abused a child on at least one occasion, and that this evidence supported a sentence requiring Taylor to be supervised by the United States Probation Office for the remainder of his life. Taylor was also ordered to pay restitution to compensate one of the children depicted in the child pornography in his possession. This case was the product of an investigation by the Redding Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Redding. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Morris prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. See MAN, page 7A ACLU alleges Lassen highway is blanketed with snow racism at Eureka school district EUREKA (AP) — A civil liberties group has accused a Northern California school district of pervasive racism and of condoning weekly traditions in which female students are groped. The allegations are contained in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court against Eureka City Schools by the American Civil Liberties Union, The TimesStandard of Eureka reported. According to the lawsuit, school officials have ignored complaints of racial taunting and bullying and disproportionately disciplined minority students. It also alleges district staff have witnessed, but done nothing about the groping traditions at one district middle school in which students — both male and female — slap others students' buttocks and breasts. ''It's an ongoing part 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 of the student culture,'' said Michael Harris, a senior attorney for the National Center for Youth Law, which brought the suit in conjunction with the ACLU on behalf of four teenage students who are black and Native American. The students are not named in the lawsuit, which seeks monetary damages and administrative changes. In a statement, the district said it does not tolerate harassment or discrimination, but it isn't aware of evidence to support the lawsuit's allegations. It is, however, investigating them. ''As a district, we take the allegations seriously, and we are actively investigating the charges to determine the facts,'' the district said. ''The well-being of our students continues to be a top priority for Eureka City Schools.'' A call to the superintendent's office on Thursday for additional comment was not immeSee ACLU, page 7A The Winter Solstice is almost upon us and the scenic drive through Lassen Volcanic National Park is now officially closed for the season. "The highway is covered by a blanket of snow and the park has been transformed into a scenic winter wonderland," announced Park Superintendent Darlene M. Koontz. "The park is open throughout the winter and is a wonderful time of year to experience a different, quieter side of the park. Lassen Volcanic National Park offers unparalleled opportunities for winter recreation, including snow play, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing." New this year, rangerled snowshoe walks will be offered to the public on Saturdays and Sundays in the Manzanita Lake area beginning Jan. 11 through March 23, weather per- Courtesy photo mitting. Visitors should meet the ranger outside the Loomis Ranger Station at 1 p.m. and come prepared for a range of winter conditions. The snowshoe programs offered at Manzanita Lake will be an opportunity to experience the beauty of the park and take a unique look into the mysterious world of winter. The walks also provide participants with instruction on the proper techniques of snowshoeSee LASSEN, page 7A Are you or someone you know out of work due to a layoff or business closure? Looking for the right job? Now is the time to invest in yourself. 2-Month Career Coaching Series Online assessment, personalized profile, tools & materials and coaching sessions. $15 per person Starts January 8th from 10-11am Learn more and apply online at www.jobtrainingcenter.org The Daily News office will CLOSE AT NOON Tuesday, Dec. 24 & Tuesday, Dec. 31 CLOSED: Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25 CLOSED: New Years Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1 Retail advertising deadline for these editions is Monday, 10AM Classified deadline Tuesday, 11AM DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY 527-2151 • FAX 527-3719 545 DIAMOND AVE., RED BLUFF