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WEEKEND January 18-19 2014 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com Jean Barton — Ag Page 4A DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Sunny 73/36 Weather forecast 8A 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 Church honors life County schools chief to retire By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer Tehama County Superintendent of Schools Larry Champion will retire at the end of his term. Champion announced his retirement, effective Jan. 2, 2015, in a press release Friday. "We've moved a lot of things forward in the past five-and-ahalf years. The formation of Champion Expect More Tehama as a community collaborative has been very powerful," Champion said in a release of the accomplishments that have made him most proud. "Additionally, we're putting the finishing touches on See SCHOOLS, page 7A Fake ticket turns out to be prank By RICH GREENE Daily News photo by Rich Greene Wooden crosses are staked into the ground at Bethel Assembly of God in Red Bluff to recognize National Sanctity of Human Life Day. By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer A yearly demonstration in honor of National Sanctity of Human Life Day has moved to Red Bluff this year. Friday morning 140 wooden crosses were staked into the ground outside Bethel Assembly of God Red Bluff at the corner of Luther Road and Mill Street. Church Maintenance Director Wayne Owensby said the 140 crosses represented the 140 abortions that would occur across the country during the 30 minutes it took to place them into the ground. The crosses will stay up for a week. Owensby said the crosses serve as a reminder that there may be a better way available, such as adoption, than having an abortion. He said the group did not intend for the ceremony to be confrontational. In years past the crosses could be seen off of Interstate 5. This year that land is being used for a walnut orchard and Bethel offered to have the crosses at the California governor proclaims state in a drought LOS ANGELES (AP) — California is nearly as dry as it's ever been. High water marks rim half-full reservoirs. Cities are rationing water. Clerics are praying for rain. Ranchers are selling cattle, and farmers are fallowing fields. Gov. Jerry Brown formally proclaimed a drought Friday, saying California is in the midst of perhaps its worst dry spell in a century. He made the announcement in San Francisco amid increasing pressure from lawmakers and as firefighters battled flare-ups in a Southern California wildfire that chased thousands of people from their homes. Unless the state gets significant rainfall in the next two months, television sets glowing with wildfires could play like reruns throughout the year. Reservoir levels in the north and central parts of the state were more depleted than in Southern California, but Brown still asked Los Angeles to do its part to conserve — and gave a nod to the politics of water in the vast state. ''The drought accentuates and further displays the conflicts between north and south and between urban and rural parts of the state. So, as governor, I'll be doing my part to bring people together and working through this.'' Farmers and ranchers in the nation's No. 1 farm state already are making hard choices to conserve. Some cities are in danger of running out of water. And the first snow survey of the winter found more bare ground than fluffy white stuff — a key barometer of future supply. ''I am a fifth-generation cattle rancher, and it has never been this bad ever in my lifetime — and from my family's history, it's never been anywhere close to this bad ever,'' said Kevin Kester, 58. He said his family's records show the area's worst See DROUGHT, page 7A church. President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation creating the first National Sanctity of Human Life Day in 1984. The date Jan. 22 was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling. When recognized by a president, National Sanctity of Human Life Day is the third Sunday in January. Rich Greene can be reached at 527-2151, ext. 109 or rgreene@redbluffdailynews.com. DN Staff Writer A fake parking ticket placed on a Red Bluff Union High School student's car last week wasn't part of a scam, it was a prank. Principal Ron Fisher said a group of students were pulling a prank on another student over a parking spot. The fake parking ticket was placed on a student's car that was parked on Union Street near the school Jan. 10. On Monday the student's father brought the ticket to the Red Bluff Police Department, which issued a press release warning residents of a potential scam. At first glance the fake parking ticket could be perceived to look real, but on closer examination it included some obvious indicators that it was fake. Hidden inside a string of numbers were the words "DONOTPARKINFRONTOFMYHOUSE" Dean of Students John Schwabauer said the students turned themselves in after the story of the potential scam made it to local newspapers and television reports. See PRANK, page 7A Free entrance to Lassen Monday Courtesy photo by Austin Greene MINERAL - Lassen Volcanic National Park entrance fees will be waived Monday, Jan. 20 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. "This time of year is normally about snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and having fun in a wintry landscape, but with the lack of snow visitors can still enjoy hiking on some of the park's trails and taking in the beautiful mountain scenery," said Superintendent Darlene Koontz. There will be rangerled walks around Manzanita Lake on Saturday and Sunday 1-2:30 p.m. Anyone interested in joining the walk, please meet at the Loomis Ranger Station located about a halfmile from the park's northwest entrance. The entrance fee free day will be in addition to the fee free President's Day weekend Feb. 15-17, National Park Week opening weekend April 19-20, National Park Service 98th birthday on Aug. 25, National Public Lands Day on Sept. 27 and Veterans Day on Nov. 11. The fee free dates do not include other fees for camping, reservations and use of concessions. Visitors traveling to the park should be prepared for cooler temperatures and mountain driving conditions. Carry tire chains in your vehicle from October through May, along with extra food, water, and blankets. For more information, email the park at lavo_information@nps.g ov, call the park at (530) 595-4480 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo. Have a news tip? Call 527-2151, Ext. 112