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TUESDAY JANUARY 14, 2014 Swine Flu is Back Back To Seattle Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 5A SPORTS 1B DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Sunny 74/36 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 Outpouring of support Fake parking ticket crops up in RB Daily News photo by Adre Byik Friends and family of Francisco Oropeza, a prominent Tehama County resident and businessman who was diagnosed with cancer last year, attend a fundraiser Saturday night at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Red Bluff. By ANDRE BYIK DN Staff Writer A Red Bluff man known for his generosity is now on the receiving end of an outpouring of support from the community. About 200 souls Saturday danced, celebrated and reminisced during a fundraiser at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Red Bluff for Frank Oropeza, a businessman known in Tehama County for his family's Mexican restaurants by the Francisco's name. "I knew there were people that cared about us but the love that people have shown, it's just amazing," Franks wife, Yolanda, said. "Just amazing love. And we're really grateful to everybody for that." The 73-year-old Oropeza in the spring of 2013 was diagnosed with cancer. Yolanda said Frank remains in good spirits, but a loss of appetite has kept him weakened. Over the years Frank Oropeza has assisted family members and friends afflicted with the disease, such as his brother, Cuco, through numerous fundraisers. Cancer struck Cuco Oropeza twice. As a result, he said, he lost his business. "Being ill, not only does it destroy your physical, but finances, too," Cuco said. Last year, the last Francisco's location in Tehama County, Pronto Market, was shuttered after Frank Oropeza's cancer diagnosis. A friend received the OK from Frank Oropeza to go ahead with plans to raise money for Oropeza's cancer treatment, and since then the family has received an outpouring of support. Oropeza, who in in the mid1970s delivered milk for McColl's Dairy and opened the first Francisco's on Walnut Street, is described as generous to his own detriment. "He's probably donated tens of thousands of pounds of chips and I don't know how many gallons of salsa," said Teresa Welker, 51, who was hired as a cook at Francisco's at about 16 and worked with the family for about 13 years. "He's just always that type of person." She added: "I think my son took his first steps at Francisco's. My oldest boy. No kidding." Sherill Conner, 65, said she had worked with Frank Oropeza from 1975 until the day he closed. "We'd sit and talk and we talked about the Bible and God," Conner said. "We have a lot in common with that. That's where me and him were mostly close." Conner said she still receives calls from Frank asking how she's doing "while he's dealing with can- Bill seeks to regulate homemade guns SACRAMENTO (AP) — A state lawmaker proposed Monday that California extend its requirement that gun buyers undergo background checks and register their weapons to anyone who assembles a firearm in their home. The legislation by state Sen. Kevin de Leon is part of a growing effort across the country to pre-empt the spread of undetectable guns that can be made using 3-D printers. His bill also would apply to anyone who buys parts that can be assembled into a gun. De Leon said he is trying to address a twin threat from what he called ''ghost guns'' — plastic guns that can slip through metal detectors and unregistered weapons that can fall into the hands of 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 people who are legally prohibited from owning firearms under state law. ''Currently, no one knows they exist until after a crime has been committed,'' said de Leon, a leading candidate to take over as Senate leader next year. That was the case for John Zawahri, who assembled his own military-style assault rifle and killed five people in Santa Monica in a June rampage even after he was barred from legally buying a gun in California because of mental health issues. The bill by De Leon, a Democrat from Los Angeles, goes further than the federal government, which last month renewed for 10 years an existing ban on plastic firearms that can evade metal detectors and X-ray machines. His bill, SB808, would allow the manufacture or See GUNS, page 7A cer." Jay Nelson, a longtime friend of Oropeza's and member of a committee organizing fundraising efforts for his treatment, stood watch and greeted folks outside the Veterans Hall for most of the night. Nelson, 53, remembered the days when Oropeza would deliver milk to his childhood home. "Mom and Dad would leave the key in the mailbox and he'd come in and put two half-gallons of milk in the refrigerator, lock up and go," said Nelson, who later worked for the Oropeza family at a Francisco's. It was Nelson who asked for Oropeza's approval to go ahead with fundraising efforts, which will continue at 5 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Tehama District Fairground. Organizers have planned a "Fiesta for a Friend," a $20 dinner that will feature the Francisco's Mexican Restaurant menu, live music, dancers, raffle prizes and more. Among the performers will be recording artist Daniel Munoz, a Red Bluff High School graduate. Proceeds will go toward Oropeza's cancer treatment and expenses, and tickets can be purchased at Red Bluff Gold Exchange, Sky River Music and the Corning Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact Nelson at 530-209-7791. Courtesy Red Bluff Police Department This fraudulent parking ticket was left on a vehicle parked on Union Street near Red Bluff Union High School Friday. The fake notice was printed on a full sheet of paper, unlike the parking citations the Red Bluff Police Department uses. What's worse than a parking ticket? How about a parking ticket that is part of a scam? The Red Bluff Police Department is warning residents of a potential scam, in which a fraudulent parking citation is left on a vehicle. On Monday a Red Bluff resident came to the department to seek information regarding a parking violation notice that had been left on his daughter's vehicle FriSee FAKE, page 7A Child support: There's an app for that Tehama Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) encourages noncustodial parents to make a New Year's Resolution to pay child support payments. It's never been more convenient to make a payment and stay current on your account. A free Child Support App is now available for Apple and Google Play. The "CAChildSup" mobile app provides easy and secure access to a customer's child support account on the go. Customers can check their account, view upcoming appointments and view payments made. The most common method of paying is through income withholding through employers. Parents can also pay See CHILD, page 7A Pedestrian hit on South Main Courtesy photo by Ross Palubeski Red Bluff Fire and a St. Elizabeth Community Hospital ambulance were dispatched around 6:15 p.m. Sunday to a vehicle versus pedestrian collision at South Main Street near Diamond Avenue in Red Bluff. The first unit at scene reported one patient with moderate injuries. An air ambulance was requested, but later canceled. A 63-year-old Bonners Ferry man was arrested for felony driving under the influence resulting in bodily injury at the location. No further information was provided Monday.