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THURSDAY MARCH 31, 2011 Breaking news at: Best Of Tehama Your picks www.redbluffdailynews.com See Inside RED BLUFF Mineral Show Pastimes See Page 6A Spartans Smash Shasta SPORTS 1B Sunny 86/57 Weather forecast 6B By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer A woman recognized by many in the community for the way she biked around the city always accompanied by a close friend died Saturday after reportedly being struck by a hit- and-run driver. Now that friend, Eddie Trevino, said he is at a loss without Wanda Pridemore who was more than just his biking buddy. DAILYNEWS TEHAMACOUNTY DAILY 50¢ 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 Cyclist’s death leaves void for many in RB “She was my dear friend,” Trevino said. “We took care of each other.” Pridemore succumbed to injuries, which included a bro- ken pelvis, just hours after the collision, Trevino said. She had been airlifted to Enloe Medical Center, in Chico. Saturday was just like any other day, with the two of them riding their bikes as they always do, Trevino said. He had just biked across the intersection at Main Street and Antelope Boulevard when he turned around he saw the driver of a pickup gun his truck at Pride- more. The truck kept going and never stopped. The driver has been identi- fied as Victor Hugo Rodriguez, 31, of Red Bluff. He was arraigned in Tehama County Superior Court Wednesday on three felony charges of murder, vehicular manslaughter with an enhancement for fleeing the scene and hit-and-run resulting in death or injury. During his arraignment, Rodriguez, who has yet to retain legal counsel, spoke up despite advice from Judge Todd Bottke about his right to remain silent. “I feel bad about the whole situa- tion,” Rodriguez said. “But I don’t remember what happened.” Well connected Pridemore There were five other people there with him, Rodriguez said before he was cut off by Bottke, who again advised him that anything he said would be on the record. Rodriguez has prior convictions of DUI, public intoxica- tion and battery, See DEATH, page 5A Nielsen honored by veterans group Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, was honored Wednesday with a Legislator of the Year award for 2010 by The California State Council, Vietnam Veter- ans of America at the State Capitol. The ceremony was an important part of the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day event in which several of the country’s Vietnam veterans had the privilege to par- ticipate. “Jim has been an unrelenting advocate for our veter- See NIELSEN, page 5A Renowned performer Baxter Black coming to Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Jason Alexander of Job Training Center Work Force Two searches for a shirt for Paul Wright Thursday at Project Homeless Connect. Those attending a workshop on connecting with employment were given a free outfit suitable for an interview. Event brings needed services to homeless By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Lines for Project Homeless Connect Wednesday at the Tehama District Fairground were steady for at least the first few hours, with more than the 150 who attend- ed in 2010. “By 1 p.m. we helped more than 300 people and they were still coming in,” said event co-Chairwoman Mandy Sharp. Close to 50 people were in line when the doors opened at 9 a.m., said co-Chairman Mike Baldwin said. Officials quiet on budget as options dwindle SACRAMENTO (AP) — The end of budget talks between Gov. Jerry Brown and Republican lawmakers has shrouded California’s fiscal future even more, leaving officials cautious about publicly saying what options remain. Lawmakers and Brown’s office on Wednesday would say only that they are dis- cussing their next steps. “We’re evaluating all our options now, but at the end of the day it’s still going to be about getting legislators and voters to own up to the choices and consequences of balancing the budget,” Brown political adviser Steven Glazer said. By giving up on talks with Republican legislators on Tuesday, Brown effec- tively abandoned his push for a June special election to renew temporary sales, vehicle and income taxes the state Legislature approved two years ago. The Democratic gover- nor had wanted to close the state’s $26.6 billion budget gap with a near equal amount of cuts and taxes. Last week, he signed bills that reduced California’s deficit to about $15.4 billion through a mix of spending See BUDGET, page 5A 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 POWER PRODUCTS DOLMAR Red Bluff Outdoor Power “There were people outside the gate at 7:30 a.m. when I arrived,” said John Gehrung of Tehama County Health Services Agency. The event is about connecting people to help them get their most needed services in one day, said co- Chairwoman Gail Locke, a member of the Tehama County Continuum of Care. “It’s about putting the pieces together so you have hope,” Locke told one man who asked about the event. Continuum of Care and Tehama County Communi- ty Action Agency partnered again to bring the event to the fairgrounds, with several agencies showing up to help out for the day. “This is incredible,” said Camilla Delsid, director of Northern Valley Catholic Social Services. “I love see- ing all the smiles on people’s faces. Faces who don’t See EVENT, page 5A RB Round-Up week Baxter Black, Cowboy Humorist, will be appear- ing live on Monday, April 11, in Red Bluff at the State Theatre as part of the kick-off to the Eleven Days of Round-Up. Black was described by the New York Times as "…probably the nation’s most success- ful living poet." A former veterinarian who turned poet, Black can shoe a horse, string barbed wire or bang out a Bob Wills classic on his flat top guitar. be served. Black is the best sell- ing cowboy poet in the world. He has written sev- eral books, recorded audio and video tapes, CDs and DVDs. He can be seen regularly on RFD TV, and has appeared many times at the Elko Cowboy Poetry Gather- ing. Tickets for the event One performance only will start at 7 p.m. Opening the event will be local cow- boy poet Bill Hooten DVM and the Siskiyou Six. Tickets went on sale March 15 at the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce, the Loft, Sparrow’s Antiques and Farmer’s Insurance in Red Bluff. This event is being sponsored by the Tehama County CattleWomen and the Sunrise Rotary of Red Bluff. More information is available at 527-3092. Backcountry Horsemen gather in RB By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The 2011 Backcountry Horsemen of California Rendezvous, a three-day educational event, will be held Friday through Sun- day at the Tehama District Fairground in Red Bluff. “It’s our major out- reach to the public,” said Educational Fund Chair- man Larry Shuman. “We’re totally volunteers. If we make any money off the event 100 percent goes back into education grants.” The non-profit organi- zation that provides ser- vices to groups building and maintaining trails formed the non-profit educational fund, which is dedicated to educating its members and the pub- lic, Shuman said. According to estimates done by the US Forest Service, the work provid- ed by Backcountry Horse- range in price from $50 for VIP seating, which includes a meet and greet with Black, $30 for floor seating and $25 for general admission. Black will meet and greet 5:30- 6:30 p.m. at the I.O.O.F. Hall across the street from the the- ater. Refreshments will Courtesy photo men in 2009 on a volun- tary basis saved roughly $3.5 million statewide, Shuman said. The Rendezvous is a chance to educate the public about what the organization does, he said. “Not only do we teach about packing and what it takes to construct a trail, but things like general equine health, the princi- ple of Leave No Trace with camping and stock to leave minimal impact and safety as well as other issues they may run into See HORSE, page 5A