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EXETER (AP) — A week of freezing tempera- tures in early December wiped out nearly a quarter of California's $2 billion citrus industry, an indus- try group estimated on Monday. The group, California Citrus Mutual, said the damage was confined to the state's Central Valley, where about $441 million in mandarin and navel oranges and lemons were lost during seven consec- utive nights of freezing temperatures in early December. Consumers are likely to see at least a slight increase in the price of oranges at the grocery store and can expect a shorter season for Califor- nia citrus, the group said. ''It's a significant loss, but most of that's going to go to the grower's bottom line,'' said Bob Blakely, director of industry rela- tions for California Citrus Mutual. Temperatures fell into the low 20s during the freeze, forcing growers to turn to irrigation and wind machines to propel warm air through the fields. The cold temperatures also put other crops such as lettuce and avocado at risk. The mandarin crop was of particular concern because the tiny fruit is thinner-skinned than other oranges, making it more susceptible to cold. California Citrus Mutual said about 20 per- cent of the mandarin crop had already been harvest- ed when the freeze set in, but about 40 percent of the remaining oranges, or $150 million in revenue, was lost. The navel crop suffered a 30 percent loss, with the dollar value of the damage hit $260 mil- lion, the group said. About $24 million in lemons also were lost. The group estimated that citrus growers spent $49 million to protect the Basic class Intermediate class Job Training Center • 718 Main St., Red Bluff Call 529-7000 Pre-Registration Required Thurs. Feb. 27, 2014 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Cost: $65.00 per person Thurs. Feb. 6, 2014 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Cost: $65.00 per person Just 10 slots available/Each person at a computer Weather forecast 8B Mostly sunny 57/32 N EWS D AILY DAILY 50¢ TUESDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2014 Tips: Avoiding Shin Splints Bogut Healthy Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY 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 See Page 4A SPORTS 1B Vitality 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Board unswayed by support for Fair CEO By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer The 30th District Agricultural Association formally accepted the resignation of Tehama Dis- trict Fairground Chief Executive Officer Mark Eidman at a special meeting Monday night. The decision came after a roomful of supporters and pro- moters gave a last minute plea to keep Eidman. Eidman told the Daily News last week that two fairboard members had asked him to either retire or be fired. Eidman's last day will be Fri- day. Along with accepting Eid- man's resignation, the board established an ad hoc committee to provide for an interim execu- tive officer to fill the upcoming vacancy. Board President Linda Durrer named herself and Vice President Greg O'Sullivan to that commit- tee. Those who spoke in favor of keeping Eidman included former fair directors and those with busi- ness dealings with the fair- grounds. "I think you're making a mis- take," said Western Open Fiddle Bull sale tops $1M Daily News photo by Andre Byik The 73rd Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale led up to the bull sale Saturday, when hundreds of buyers filled the Bull Sale Arena at the Tehama District Fairground. By ANDRE BYIK DN Staff Writer The 73rd Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale culminated Saturday in the bull sale, which attracts thou- sands across the region to the Tehama District Fairground. The sale, which had 431 bulls entered and 318 sold, managed to top $1 million for the fourth straight year. The sale generated $1.03 mil- lion, which was down from last year's $1.2 million. Bull sale manager Adam Owens said he was a bit nervous about bull prices going into Saturday, but those fears were quashed when the average price managed to top last year's number. "That was a relief for sure," Owens said. Bulls sold for an average price of about $3,264, a bit higher than last year's $3,237 average. The total bulls sold this year, however, was lower; 318 compared to last years 378. Owens said while the drought has affected the industry, prices are also at an all-time high due to a cat- tle shortage. "You're seeing those two forces sort of balance each other out," he said, adding that if there had been an average amount of rainfall at this point, "we may have seen some phenomenal prices." The highest price bid was for Cardey Ranch's champion range Weekend event is all smiles By ANDRE BYIK DN Staff Writer A spate of dental pro- fessionals and other vol- unteers at the ninth annual Give Kids a Smile Day on Saturday in Red Bluff expected to provide treat- ment to about 100 chil- dren and young adults. The program, which provides free screenings, cleanings, fillings and more for those up to age 19 who are uninsured and without a dentist, was pre- sented by such local agen- cies as Tehama County Public Health Advisory Board, St. Elizabeth Com- munity Hospital and the Northern Valley Indian Health Dental Clinic, where the day kicked off at 9 a.m. "Prevention is our focus," said Mary Jacob- son, a Tehama County Public Health Services Agency health educator and registered dental hygienist. "We are trying to prevent cavities and decay. Children can't be totally healthy if their oral health is not good." Daily News photo by Andre Byik Dr. Alphonse Ramos, left, treats a patient at the ninth annual Give Kids a Smile Day on Saturday at Northern Valley Indian Health Dental Clinic in Red Bluff. Freeze cost nearly a quarter of citrus crop Pair busted with 100 pounds pot A Red Bluff Police Department traffic stop early Saturday morning led the confiscation of more than 100 pounds of processed marijuana. Officers conducted the traffic stop around 4 a.m. in the area of Antelope Boulevard and Rio Street. The driver and passenger of the vehicle were Hum- boldt County residents, 27-year-old Ryan Michael Tul- lai and 22-year-old Sage Chari Vallot. During a search of the vehicle officers located more than 100 pounds of processed marijuana. Brown calls drought bill 'divisive' SACRAMENTO (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown said Monday that a Republican effort in Congress to address California's unprecedented drought is an ''unwelcome and divi- sive intrusion'' in the state's efforts to address the crisis by pitting water users against one another. Brown, a Democrat, sent a letter Monday to leadership of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Califor- nia's entire congressional delegation asking them to oppose HR3964, which is scheduled to be taken up this week. The legislation, which is sponsored by Califor- nia's Republican congres- sional delegation, would allow farmers to increase pumping from the Sacra- mento-San Joaquin River Delta and create a House- Senate committee to tack- le water problems. ''It would override state laws and protections, and mandate that certain water interests come out ahead of others,'' Brown wrote in his letter. ''It falsely suggests the promise of water relief when that is simply not possible given the scarcity of water supplies.'' California officials announced last week they will not send any water from the state's vast reser- voir system to local agen- cies this spring, the first time that has happened in the 54-year history of the State Water Project. State Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin said there simply is not enough water in the system to meet the needs of farmers, cities and the conservation efforts that are intended to save dwin- dling populations of salmon and other fish throughout Northern Cali- See SALE, page 7A See POT, page 7A See DROUGHT, page 7A See CROP, page 7A See SMILES, page 7A '(I'm) extremely alarmed and very concerned with what direc- tion we are going' — Ali Abassi, promoter See FAIR, page 7A