Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/23645
Monday, January 24, 2011 – Daily News – 5A BUS Continued from page 1A and emotional distress, $3 million for past and future medical expenses, $100,000 for past lost income, and $1 million for future lost earn- ings and earning capacity. A California State Uni- versity, Chico student at the time of the accident, Grell is still recovering. Claims are generally referred to counsel and are the first step in the process toward litigation. ——— Andrea Wagner can be reached at 527-2153, extension 114 or awagner@redbluffdailynew s.com. Fundraiser for stroke victim Debbie Bretzke, a 47-year-old Red Bluff woman who suffered a stroke while applying for disability ben- efits at Social Services last week, is starting to respond to commands at Mercy Medical Center in Redding. To help her with insurance payments while recover- ing, family and friends are hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, at Vineyard Christian Fel- lowship, 738 Walnut St. Bretzke may have to pay some $600 per month for interim health coverage. Family members from out of the area will be coming to prepare the meal. RODEO Continued from page 1A Top Hand, or the champi- on all around ranch cow- boy. The award is decided by votes from the compet- ing teams, the judges and the directors of the Ranch Rodeo Committee. “This is something everybody dreams of,” Whitney said. Whitney has been com- peting in the JP Ranch Rodeo for about five years, he said. However, just after his name was announced, it hadn’t real- ly hit him yet. “My friends say I did well and voted for me,” Whitney said. “I think I just got lucky.” Winners posed for pho- tos with Tehama County royalty: Jennifer Marinel- li, the 2010 Miss Califor- nia Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association, and Brittany Manner, Miss Red Bluff Junior Round-Up Senior Queen. The Top Hand was given a custom-built Judd Miller handmade trophy saddle Thelma Owens, the widow of Jim Owens, greeted winners as well. Owens, who will turn 90 in August, was seated with family to watch the rodeo finals. “All the Owenses are ranchers,” she said. Daily News photo by Andrea Wagner The 16th annual JP Ranch Rodeo honored Lee Whitney, 25, of King City, Saturday as the Top Hand for 2011. Owens’ grandson Casey Moore came to give her a hug after he carried a California flag on horse- back for the opening cere- mony of the finals. Moore placed third in the Dummy Roping finals for ages 11 to 13 and first place in the boot race. He won a 40-lb. bag of Purina Senior Horse Feed donat- ed by Tractor Supply Co. and a custom pair of boots from Dave’s Boots. He was among nearly two dozen local children, up to 13 years old, who par- ticipated in the Dummy Roping competition. Those winners includ- ed Kamish Wagner in first place for the 6 and younger age group; Cody Stewart in first place for ages 7 to 10; and Caleb Heitman in the 11 to 13 age group. Each first place winner was given a roping dummy from Brandon Minch Construc- tion. “Steady Betty” was named the Top Horse, or the champion cowhorse for 2011. Her owner received a silver bit donat- ed by Bub Ragan Excavat- ing, a handmade headstall donated by Judd Miller Custom Saddlery and new reins donated by Cunning- ham Fences. Proceeds from the rodeo go toward scholar- ships given out to two stu- dents each year to “con- tinue the legacy of the working cowboy,” accord- ing to the souvenir pro- gram. The 2010 scholarship recipients were Jenna Price and Clayton Brown. ——— Andrea Wagner can be reached at 527-2153, extension 114 or awagner@redbluffdailyne ws.com. Treasurer warns of IOUs, if no cuts BERKELEY (AP) — State Treasurer Bill Lock- yer said Saturday that California could be forced to issue IOUs as early as April or May if state law- makers don’t make deep spending cuts soon. Lockyer, a Democrat, said that if lawmakers don’t adopt a timely bud- get ‘‘that addresses the substantial shortfall in current accounts, we will run out of money to pay the bills either in this fis- cal year or shortly into the new one.’’ The treasurer made the comments at a political conference hosted by the University of California, Berkeley Institute for Governmental Studies. California faces a $25.4 billion deficit through the end of June 2012, including an $8.2 billion shortfall in the fis- cal year that ends in July. To close the gap, Gov. Jerry Brown, a fellow Democrat, has proposed $12.5 billion in spending cuts and borrowing, and wants to ask voters to extend a series of tempo- rary taxes in a June spe- cial election. The state Legislature would need to act by the end of March to get such a measure on the ballot, and Brown has also asked lawmakers to have a budget deal in place by then. ‘‘The governor has said he wants to get a bud- get back from the Legisla- ture by March. Lockyer’s comments today really underscore how important that is,’’ said Brown spokeswoman Elizabeth Ashford. The treasurer said that to win voter approval for extensions of temporary sales, income and vehicle taxes, Brown and other Democrats must show California voters what’s at stake — what would be cut if the proposed $11 billion in tax increases aren’t approved. Republican legislative leaders have vowed to fight efforts to extend the taxes and have so far been steadfastly against even putting such a measure before voters. Brown like- ly needs two-thirds sup- port in both houses of the state Legislature to get his measures on the ballot, meaning two GOP votes in the Assembly and three in the Senate. Lockyer said many Democrats are worried about appearing to threat- en voters by presenting a ‘‘cuts only’’ budget, but said voters need to know what it would mean to the state. ‘‘The hit on K-12 (schools) is at least close the schools six weeks a year. Voters need to hear that,’’ he said. Earlier this month, Brown proposed a $127.4 billion spending plan for the 2011-12 fiscal year. It includes deep cuts to higher education and ser- vices for the poor, dis- abled and elderly. Part of Brown’s sales pitch this time is that most of the tax revenue from the sales tax and vehicle license fee extensions, if approved at the polls, would go to cities and City spends heavily to keep cityhood VERNON (AP) — The city of Vernon — population: about 90 — has spent more than $54 million on lawyers in the last five years as it fights to hang on to its cityhood. Vernon officials hope the outsize legal billings will help the tiny industrial city beat a bill in the state Legislature that would require municipalities with fewer than 150 residents to be disincorporated unless their county board of supervisors supports them. The Los Angeles Times reported Fri- day that Vernon’s legal spending is on par with nearby Long Beach, a city of nearly 500,000 that operates one of the world’s largest ports and has an annual budget of $2.5 billion. Many of Vernon’s residents are city employees or friends or relatives of city officials. Critics, including Assembly Speaker John Perez, argue that because the hand- ful of people allowed to live in Vernon are beholden to city government, it cannot have proper checks and balances. They say the city’s legal spending is evidence that Vernon is essentially run for the ben- efit of its officials and their allies. Vernon officials defended their legal costs, telling the Times they are necessary because of the complexity of the city’s municipal business. The city owns a power plant as well as a natural gas dis- tribution system and has an annual budget of about $300 million, many times larger than surrounding cities. In a statement to the newspaper, City Administrator Mark Whitworth said Ver- non’s business ‘‘requires top legal exper- tise that can only be found at high-rank- ing and highly experienced firms.’’ counties. California vot- ers have shown greater willingness to pay for local services than to fund state government, which many see as inefficient. ZONE Continued from page 1A Scott and Liz Kremer, owners of the property, approached PATH and offered to sell the prop- erty to the organization after plans for a site on Minch Road fell through, President Allene Dering said. But before the shelter can be built, the Kremers and PATH must lobby for a change in the city’s zoning code to allow for such use on the roughly 3.48-acre lot. The Kremers submit- ted a letter to the com- mission stating their support for the rezone. In his staff report, Planning Director Scot Timboe gave a favorable recommendation. There are others, however, who object. A letter to the com- mission signed by 18 neighbors, most who live on Washington Street, voiced their objection to having the homeless shelter at that site. The neighborhood has beautiful historic homes, and the site is too close to schools and business- es, the letter said. The rezoning will only bring more homeless people, loitering and littering, to the area. PATH had originally proposed to build the year round shelter at a site out on Minch Road. However, that plan was abandoned because it was too costly to hook the site up to the city’s water and sewage sys- tem, Dering said. The shelter would have 40 beds and be the first year round and per- manent homeless shelter in the city. Having its own shelter would allow PATH more latitude to better serve those in need of its ser- vices, Dering said. With- out the shelter, PATH will have to continue relying on churches to provide a space, an option that is only avail- able 6 months out of the year. Getting the shelter built is contingent on the BULB Continued from page 1A any reports of customers hoarding 100-watt bulbs yet, though that may change once supplies begin to dry up and word gets out. Nick Reynoza, manag- er at Royal Lighting in Los Angeles, said it’s a shame the transition comes at a time when alternatives are so much more expensive. ‘‘It’s not really an option — you have this or you don’t get anything,’’ he said. ‘‘The options are more expensive. Four incandes- cents are $1.00, the halogens are $5.99 and the LED are like $20.’’ While conservation groups back the change and the lighting industry has invested heavily in new technology, not everyone supports the law. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, who could not immediately be reached for comment, reintroduced legislation this year to repeal the law. ‘‘People don’t want Con- gress dictating what light fixtures they can use,’’ said Rep. Barton on his website. ‘‘Traditional incandescent bulbs are cheap and reli- able.’’ Adam Gottlieb, spokesman for the Califor- nia Energy Commission, acknowledged that the change has resulted in a ‘‘great deal of hue and cry’’ on some blogs as well. Recent postings have included the titles ‘‘More dim bulbs: California ban- ning 100-watt incandescent light bulbs’’ and ‘‘More evi- dence that California is nuts.’’ commission and the City Council approving the rezone. A $1 million grant that PATH received for the Minch Road site is also up in the air. Dering has asked the state for an extension in hopes of getting the Breckenridge Street site. The state is waiting for a decision on the rezone before granting the extension. The commission will meet at 5:15 p.m. at City Hall, 555 Washington St. The meeting is open to the public. ——— Tang Lor can be reached at 527-2153, Ext. 110 or by e-mail at tlor@redbluffdailynews.co m. Gottlieb, however, said it was not a ban and that con- sumers can still buy whatev- er bulbs they want as long as they meet the new standards. ‘‘After 130 years Tom Edison’s old-fashioned light bulb is getting a 20th centu- ry makeover,’’ he said. ‘‘The simple truth is consumers will save money.’’ The newer bulbs are more expensive than incan- descents, but supporters of the technology say they last so much longer that there is a financial savings in the end. For example, while incandescents provide as much as 2,000 hours of light, compact fluorescents can provide light for six times longer. Incandescents, which create light by passing an electric current through a tungsten wire filament, also waste 90 percent of the elec- tricity they use as heat instead of light. Fluores- cents, by comparison, apply an electrical current to dif- ferent types of phosphers to produce light and produce less heat. But fans of the traditional bulb say they provide a soft- er, more natural light and turn on more quickly. Michael Petras, president of GE Lighting, said the indus- try is aware of the shortcom- ings and is working to refine the technology. ‘‘We’ve got compact flu- orescents that look like incandescents,’’ he said from the company’s head- quarters in Cleveland. ‘‘We have a product coming out this spring that’s a hybrid of compact fluorescent and halogen that will provide energy savings and a better start up time.’’