Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/259684
TULARE (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown visited Cali- fornia's drought-stricken agricultural heartland on Wednesday and called on Republicans and Democ- rats in Congress to strike a compromise that will ben- efit the region and nation. As part of his busy schedule of stops in the Central Valley, Brown met with farmers at a breakfast and briefly walked the midway of the 47th Annu- al World Ag Expo in Tulare, a massive farm show where he attracted attention from curious onlookers as he answered questions from reporters. Brown said bickering among federal lawmakers over drought aid accom- plishes nothing. ''They like to fight, and now they're fighting,'' Brown said. ''That doesn't help farmers, doesn't help California, doesn't help the country.'' Brown's visit to Cali- fornia's agriculture region came after he declared a drought emergency in Jan- uary and before President Barack Obama visits Fres- no on Friday. Brown's reference to political bickering involved a drought mea- sure proposed by three Central Valley Republi- cans that was approved by the House last week large- ly along party lines. It would reallocate water from the San Joaquin Delta to farmers south in the Central Valley and stop efforts to restore the San Joaquin River, which now runs dry a short dis- tance west of Friant Dam. Weather forecast 8B Scattered rain 63/50 N EWS D AILY DAILY 50¢ THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2014 RBHS Once Upon a Mattress Prep Roundup 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 Pastimes 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 THE DAILY NEWS OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17 FOR PRESIDENTS DAY. Retail advertising deadlin: Tuesday's edition is Friday, Feb. 14 @ Noon. Wednesday's edition is Friday, Feb. 14 @ 2pm. Classified deadline is Friday, Feb. 14 @ Noon. N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY (530) 527-2151 545 Diamond Ave., Red Bluff Ballot measure would raise supes' salaries By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer The Tehama County Board of S u p e r v i s o r s voiced support for a June 3 ballot measure Tuesday that would amend the County Char- ter to include a raise for board- members, but were skeptical about whether it would pass a c o u n t y - w i d e vote. Supervisor Bob Williams said three similar mea- sures have failed since 1989, but raising the wage so qualified resi- dents could afford to serve the county was vital for Tehama's future. "If not now, when?" Williams asked. T e h a m a County supervi- sors are the lowest paid in the state and haven't received a raise in at least 25 years. Under the proposed Measure B, a supervisor's monthly salary would be raised from the $1,045 that was last set in 1989 to $3,795 beginning Jan. 2015. The 2012-13 Tehama County Grand Jury recommended the Board of Supervisors once again put the issue in front of voters in an effort to make sure otherwise qualified candidates weren't discouraged from run- ning for the position. Tom Mohler, a frequent crit- ic of the board, said he believed the board deserved a raise, but that voters wouldn't favor it because of the drastic increase proposed. The proposed $3,795 salary came from the Grand Jury's report and was an average of supervisors' compensation from similar-sized counties across California. Tehama County staff had actually recommended a larger salary based on its own salary comparison studies of the sur- June 3 ELECTION Measure B will read: 'Shall the Tehama County Charter be amended to increase the salary of members of the Board of Supervisors to $3,795 per month effective January 1, 2015?' Bridge to be extended By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer The plan to replace the Jellys Ferry Road Bridge is being expanded to include a second structure that would make the entire project meet 100- year flood requirements. Caltrans and the Feder- al Highway Administra- tion have approved a sec- ond bridge structure over an unnamed slough immediately north of the existing bridge. The existing road over that slough typically floods once every two to three years, restricting access to the bridge. The Tehama County Board of Supervisors Tuesday authorized an amended agreement with T.Y. Lin International for design, surveying and environmental services to include the second struc- ture. The new amended con- tract is in the amount of $1.254 million. The entire project to replace the 1949 Jellys Ferry Bridge is now upwards of $20 million. Funding for the design and environmental phase of the project is being paid by an 80-20 federal and state split. The construction phase, which is scheduled to start in late summer 2015 and last around 30 months, is also being split between federal and state revenues. The Jellys Ferry Bridge over the Sacra- mento River is about 7.5 miles north of the junc- tion of Jellys Ferry Road and Interstate 5, about 9 miles north of Red Bluff and 5 miles south of Shas- ta County. Daily News file photo Jellys Ferry Bridge about 5 miles north of Red Bluff. Corning urges water conservation By ANDRE BYIK DN Staff Writer CORNING — As California continues to struggle with severe drought conditions, the city of Corning will start asking residents here to curb their water use by 15 percent. The Corning City Council voted Tuesday to imple- ment the first stage of its water conservation program, which calls on the city's customers to voluntarily reduce their water use. A website, www.saveourh2o.org, along Local pooch competes for best of show NEW YORK (AP) — The bloodhound drew the loudest cheers. The Portie came with presidential con- nections. And the Irish water spaniel tried to earn another win for Seattle in the Super Bowl — of dogs, that is. A little wire fox terrier called Sky stood in their way. The 5-year-old Sky won best in show at the West- minster Kennel Club on Tuesday night, finishing off AP photo Coco, a Cardigan Welsh corgi from Red Bluff, received kisses on a grooming table in the benching area before the Westminster Kennel Club dog show Tuesday in New York. Farm Bureau annual meeting full of honors Special to the DN Tehama County Farm Bureau (TCFB) held its 96th Annual Meeting on Jan. 16 at the Corning Veter- ans Memorial Hall. Master of Ceremonies Shelley Macdonald reported on many accomplishments TCFB achieved during 2013, which include County of the Year from the Califor- nia Farm Bureau Federation and five County Activities of Excellence Awards in leadership, membership, policy implementation, media relations and educa- tion. Tehama County Farm Bureau First Vice President Michael Vasey presented the 2013 Member of the Year award to Tyler Chris- tensen. Vasey also intro- duced the 2013 Friend of the Farm Bureau, which went to the Tehama County Depart- ment of Agriculture. Heather Hacking, a reporter from the Chico Enterprise- Courtesy photo Tyler Christensen, left, was named the Member of the Year, Heather Hacking, Media Person of the Year and Rick Gur- rola, the Tehama County Ag Commissioner, Friend of Farm Bureau Jan. 16 at the Tehama County Farm Bureau annual meeting. Brown: Drought requires compromise See BALLOT, page 7A See WATER, page 7A See BRIDGE, page 7A See BEST, page 7A See FARM, page 7A See BROWN, page 7A