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TUESDAY APRIL 19, 2011 Breaking news at: Massachusetts Patriotic Zip American Profile www.redbluffdailynews.com See Inside RED BLUFF Round-Up Rundown SPORTS 1B Mostly Sunny 73/49 Weather forecast 8B By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer The former Helser Chevrolet property on Adobe Road has been bought by a local car deal- ership owner, but what kind of business will be moving in is still unknown. A deed of trust was filed Fri- day transferring the property from Redding Bank of Com- 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 Local dealer buys former Helser lot merce to Benny and Caroline Brown, according to the Tehama County Clerk and Recorders Office. Benny Brown, owner of Corning Ford Mercury, could not be reached for comments Monday. Corning Ford Mercury Gen- eral Manager Paul Sutfin declined to comment. The property has been vacant ‘Sales tax is critically important (in generating revenue), and auto dealership sales have been an important part of that in the past’ City Manager Martin Nichols since Helser Chevrolet shut its doors in August 2010. The clo- For the birds Cottonwood man helps ducks feather their nests By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer While many students on break from school take time to relax, Trevor Siperek spent his time working on his high school senior project, which he started in 2007. The Red Bluff native attended Anderson New Technology, graduating in 2008. For his senior pro- ject he made nesting boxes for wood ducks and while he was home on leave the week of March 11 from the Coast Guard Academy, he spent time sprucing up the boxes. “I liked the outdoors a lot and a lot of senior pro- jects don’t really accom- plish anything, but I want- ed something that contin- ues to give back to the community and would be fun,” Siperek said. While some might consider building the boxes, checking on them and fixing them up each spring work, he does not, Siperek said. “I enjoyed it,” Siperek said. “I gave a presenta- tion to a panel from Sierra Pacific on the results of the program and now I maintain the boxes and have added some addi- tional ones. There was a 60 percent increase in use after the first year.” The Coast Guard Cadet is stationed at the academy in New London, Conn. where it is part of his requirement to do community service hours. When he was home for a few days in March he checked on several of his wood duck boxes. Most cadets do service projects near the school, but Siperek asked for per- mission to continue his project back home, which involves the upkeep of the boxes in local wetlands. While he was home, Siperek spent several Photo courtesy of Trevor Siperek Above:Wood ducks swim near one of the wood duck nesting boxes built by Trevor Siperek project in 2007. Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Left: Coast Guard Cadet Trevor Siperek works on sprucing up wood duck nesting boxes while on leave in March in the Cottonwood area. area. hours working on Depart- ment of Fish and Game land, the Balls Ferry Wet- land area, near the mouth State gets federal disaster declaration for tsunami WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama signed a federal disaster declaration Monday to help California’s coastal counties recover from last month’s tsunami. Powerful waves generat- ed by the magnitude-9.0 earthquake in Japan caused extensive damage to Cali- fornia’s coast on March 11. State officials estimated more than $48 million in damage, mostly to harbors in Crescent City and Santa Cruz where the ocean ripped apart docks and sank dozens of boats. Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emer- gency in a total of six coun- ties: Del Norte, Humboldt, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Mendocino and San Luis Obispo. The declaration signed by Obama will allow state and local governments, as well as some nonprofits, to seek federal funding for emergency repair and reconstruction work. Cali- fornia emergency manage- ment officials said it could save the state as much as $25 million in costs. Democratic Sen. Bar- 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 bara Boxer, who had joined Sen. Dianne Feinstein in a letter supporting the state’s April 7 request for federal assistance, praised the pres- ident for “acting quickly to help communities affected by this international disas- ter.” of Cottonwood Creek, and several more on the Bureau of Land Manage- ment’s Paynes Creek Refuge Area in the Bend “It’s cool knowing that I did something that made a difference,” Siperek said. “It’s nice finding feathers and egg shell remains that show the box has been used, it’s not hard to do and it makes up for the riparian habitat lost in California,” Siperek said. “All it takes is time and wood shav- ings. It’s my way to give back to the community.” Occasionally, if a box isn’t being used, he has to relocate it, but that hasn’t See BIRDS, page 7A sure happened a year after Red Bluff Ford closed in April 2009, leaving the city with only one dealership selling new cars — Growney Motors on Main Street. The auto dealership industry has contributed largely to the city’s sales tax revenue, and the closing of Helser Chevrolet and Red Bluff Ford has impacted the city’s bottom line, City Manager Martin Nichols said. See LOT, page 7A City to mull dept head contracts By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer The Red Bluff City Council will consider employ- ment contract extensions for most of the city’s depart- ment heads when the council meets today. Contracts for Fire Chief Mike Bachmeyer, Parks and Recreation Director Debbie Carlisi, Building Director J.D. Ellison, Human Resources Director Tessa Pritchard and Planning Director Scot Timboe will be considered. Their contracts are set to expire June 30. The exten- See CITY, page 7A Rogers named assistant DA The Tehama Coun- ty District Attorne y’s Office again has a second in command. District Attorne y Gregg Cohen promoted Deputy Dis- trict Attorney Matt Rogers to Rogers assistant district attorney Monday. Rogers started as a law clerk in the District Attor- ney’s Office in 2006, then worked as a post-bar law clerk and was hired as a deputy district attorney. Prior to being named assistant district attorney, Rogers was responsible for major-case narcotics prosecution and worked as prosecutor in cases involving the drug task- force, Tehama Intera- gency Drug Enforcement. “Matt has performed tremendously supporting the taskforce,” Cohen said. “It’s a difficult, busy, assignment. To be successful in this role it takes great trial skills, intelligent motion work and a profes- sional, calm- collected demeanor.” Rogers, a Red Bluff native who is married with two young children, is a graduate of California State Universi- ty, Chico having majored in business administration with an emphasis in man- agement. In 2007, Rogers received his law degree from California Northern School of Law in Chico. “He has performed well, works smart and has never failed to impress,” Cohen said. “Feedback from judges, law enforce- ment, his peers and each of his supervisors has always been outstanding. See ROGERS, page 7A Ridgeway Tractor Show this weekend The Nor-Cal Antique Tractor & Engine Club, Branch 114, Spring Gas Up is scheduled for April 22-24. The show, which includes a large display of antique tractors and engines, will kick off at noon Friday, April 22 and run until 5 p.m. at Ridgeway Park in Red Bluff. Saturday’s action starts at 7:30 a.m. and runs through 4 p.m. On Easter Sunday, the show will run 8 a.m. to noon. Tractor pulls are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday and a tractor parade will fol- low Saturday afternoon. The event is fun for all ages and free to the public. Follow the signs to Ridgeway Park. For more informa- tion, call 527-3650, 736-7723 or 347-1802. Courtesy photo Loyd Spencer of Los Molinos driving his Farmall Super M pulling the weight sled. The tractor pulls are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday at Ridgeway Park. Are you tired of those ugly, thick, painful fungal PODIATRY CENTER toenails? AEROFEET Painless Topical Treatment THAT REALLY WORKS. Treat your neglected nails and cracked feet in time for spring sandals! Call today for an appointment (530)527-7584 COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR Smog Inspection $ 2595 + cert. (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) Pass or FREE retest 195 S. Main St. Red Bluff 530 527-9841