Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/263782
MOUNT SHASTA (AP) — Spring water bot- tler Crystal Geyser's plans to tap an aquifer at the base of Mount Shasta is running into opposition from some residents, environmentalists and Native American tribes. They say the planned bottling operation in the town of Mount Shasta in Siskiyou County could deplete wells and the aquifer, which feeds the headwaters of the Sacra- mento River, at a time of extreme drought in Cali- fornia. Crystal Geyser says the concerns are overblown. The company plans to use a plant that was built by Coca-Cola to bottle water for Dannon. Crystal Geyser CEO Doug MacLean tells the San Francisco Chronicle that Crystal Geyser will use half the water that Coca-Cola used, and there is plenty of available water. But people in the town of about 3,400 say the county is not thoroughly studying the possible impacts of the project. ''This is the same aquifer that the homeown- ers who live nearby share,'' Vicki Gold, a member of a citizens group opposed to the pro- ject, told the newspaper. ''There is no environ- mental impact review, no restrictions on groundwa- ter extraction and Crystal Geyser has carte blanche in terms of traffic and to build as many buildings as they want.'' The area's water is important for California. Snowmelt and storm SACRAMENTO (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown and the top Democratic law- makers on Wednesday announced a $687 million plan to provide immediate help to drought-stricken communities throughout California, including $15 million for those with dan- gerously low drinking water supplies. The proposal comes amid one of the driest peri- ods in the history of the nation's most populous state, forcing farmers to fal- low fields and some com- munities to warn of low water supplies. ''There's many ways we can better use the water we have,'' Brown said during a news conference at a state office near Sacramento. ''You can't manufacture water.'' The Democratic plan, which now goes to the Leg- islature, does not address long-term improvements to California's water supply Intermediate class Job Training Center • 718 Main St., Red Bluff Call 529-7000 Pre-Registration Required Thursday February 27, 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 73/43 N EWS D AILY DAILY 50¢ THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2014 Cyclocross Rolling to RB US Hockey Advances 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 8A SPORTS 1B 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 City budget picture brighter than predicted By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer Revised estimates of the city of Red Bluff's revenues paint a less bleak picture of the general fund's future standing than pre- viously forecasted. A report from Finance Direc- tor Sandy Ryan to the City Council Tuesday estimated the city's general fund would end June 2015 with a balance of $256,487, a substantial increase from the $97,075 Ryan's last budget update estimated. However Ryan cautioned the council that the ending balance was below the $500,000 reserve she said the city should main- tain and added the city's budget committee was working on solutions to achieve that sav- ings. The city began the fiscal year on July 1, 2013 with a general reserve balance of $739,159. However the city is forecasted to spend more money this year than it takes in, which will reduce the balance to $609,789. Without further budget changes and with a set of raises set to kick in for union employ- ees, the budget would dwindle to $256,487 by June 30, 2015, according to Ryan's estimates. Among the new factors working in the general fund's favor were revised sales tax rev- enue estimates for an increased revision of $131,600. City staff estimated total expenses would be decreased by around $42,450 due to a reduction in the estimate of comp leave payouts in the remainder of the fiscal year. Agenda items • The City Council adopted a resolution waiving notification requirements in regards to prop- erty Tehama County is purchas- ing on Antelope Boulevard for a temporary Day Reporting Cen- ter. The waiver will allow the county to move forward quicker with its purchase of 778 and 780 Antelope Blvd. The Day Reporting Center would be a joint venture by the County's Probation and Sher- iff's Departments to manage probationers and offenders assigned to work in alternate custody programs. The location will also serve as central reporting location for day work assignments, job skill training, mental health counsel- ing and drug and alcohol ser- vices. The Day Reporting Center on Walnut Street will be dis- placed this summer with the construction of the new Tehama County Superior Courthouse. Saddle up for a cause Courtesy photo The sixth annual Northern California HERO Ride for Life cancer research fundraiser is set for April 5 at the Tehama District Fairground. The entry deadline for those who wish to participate is March 6. By ANDRE BYIK DN Staff Writer Over the past five years, the Northern California HERO Ride for Life event has raised more than $150,000 to benefit the American Cancer Society. The upcoming sixth annual event, which comprises teams of five to eight horse and rider pairs, is set for April 5 at the Tehama Dis- trict Fairground, and entry deadline is March 6. The Ride for Life event is similar to the popular Relay for Life events held around the world. Last year Ride for Life drew about 220 participants from throughout the North State and raised more than $29,000 to go toward American Cancer Society programs and services. The event started as a 4-H pro- ject in 2009 and has grown over the years. It includes kids games and entertainment as well as a dummy roping competition for children ages 9 and under, 10 to 13, and 14 to 18. This year, the event, which is set to run from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will also include a Locks for Love sta- tion where the participant who donates the most hair will be crowned the Locks for Love cham- pion. Participants open the event by walking the first lap, leading rider- less horses in remembrance of those lost to cancer. Teams then have at least one member taking laps around the fairgrounds arena County-wide spelling bee benefit planned For 11 years, the Back to School Project has helped Tehama County children go back to school with a sense of pride and now will be bringing an exciting new fundraiser with a spelling bee. The organization will put on a 12-team competition 5-8 p.m. March 22 at Red Bluff Union High School to raise funds for its August shopping trip and haircutting event. The challenge will include six teams of upper-grade students competing against six adult teams for prizes and bragging rights and at the same time improving and encouraging literacy awareness. Teams will compete in three separate one-minute, fast-paced rounds of spelling with each round having two spellers from the same team working together to spell as many words correctly as possible in one minute. I-5 work to begin Monday in Redding REDDING – Caltrans District 2 along with con- tractors Shasta Construc- tors will begin repairs on the Hartnell Avenue over- crossing on Monday, Feb. 24, to repair damaged caused by a semi-tractor that collided with the overpass. Work will be per- formed at night around 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. Traffic on Interstate 5 will be reduced to one lane in the southbound direction dur- ing those hours. A lane closure may also be required during the week- end. Throughout construc- tion, the two eastbound lanes on Hartnell Avenue will be opened to two- way traffic. The west- bound lanes will remain closed for the duration of the repair. The estimated $1 mil- lion project will include removing the damaged concrete and repairing structural steel. Work is expected to take between 30 and 45 days. Caltrans would also like to remind the travel- ing public to please move over if safe or slow down when they see Caltrans vehicles flashing warning lights along the side of the highways. Gov. plans $687 million for drought AP photo The California Emer- gency Services State Operations Center is seen in Mather Wednes- day. California Gov. Jerry Brown, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Stein- berg, D-Sacramento, and Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles, toured the center. Water bottler faces opposition in Shasta See CITY, page 7A See SADDLE, page 7A See BEE, page 7A See SHASTA, page 7A See DROUGHT, page 7A