Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/30630
MONDAY MAY 2, 2011 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 7A RED BLUFF Students Join Pros on Stage Wilcox Pro-Am SPORTS 1B Mostly sunny 80/52 Weather forecast 8B Local youth receive grants for projects DAILYNEWS Dog Fight 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 The California 4-H Youth Development Program award- ed six counties with $1,000 grants to implement healthy liv- ing projects within their communities. The grant proposals were written by 4-H teens, and suc- cessful projects may involve 4-H members as young as 5 years old, according to a press release issued Thursday by the program. The Tehama County 4-H youth camp staff received funds to increase the healthy opportunities available at Camp Tehama in Mill Creek. The camp draws about 100 nature-loving 4-H members to a week-long outdoor adven- ture. This year, the youth camp staff identified healthy liv- ing as an area to improve. According to www.countyhealthrankings.com, the adult obesity rate in Tehama County is 26 percent, only few points off from the heaviest county, Merced, at 30 percent, the release said. By teaching youth to make healthy choices at a young age, they may learn healthy habits that last a life- time. The camp staff will offer daily 60-minute nutrition workshops, taste tests during meal time and healthier food options. Each camper will learn how to make nutritious food choices and create their own camp cookbooks. “We selected this project because we feel it’s important See YOUTH, page 7A Businesses, jobless sought for grants Ashley Williams start- ed her new job at EcoShell in Corning last month. Ashley was look- ing for was any challeng- ing position with a well known and/or successful local company. Her searches ranged from pro- duction and management to sales and customer ser- vice. Today, she’s not only learning about the sales and customer care part of the job, she’s also learn- ing about the "green" side of the company and how Eco-Shell's exciting new organic cat litter Purr & Simple, is made. EcoShell, one of the pre- mier suppliers of walnut shell media to industrial markets around the world, is being reimbursed 50 percent of Ashley’s wages during her training period as part of a green industry "pathways" grant awarded to the Job Training Center in January. The grant, received from the U.S. Department of Labor, is intended to help introduce and train qualified job seekers in "green" industry positions and to help local green businesses train a quali- fied workforce. For the business, there is flexibili- ty to choose who to hire See GRANTS, page 7A Daily News photo by Andrea Wagner Dog Island Park became Virginia, 1862, over the weekend as Civil War reenactments took place for the seventh year in Red Bluff. By ANDREA WAGNER DN Staff Writer Cannon blasts and musket fire could be heard across the river and for miles around as the battles of Virginia in 1862 were reborn at Samuel Ayers Dog Island Park in Red Bluff. Reenactors of the American Civil War set up camp for Civil War Days for the seventh year in Red Bluff. Union camps at one end, Con- federate brigades at the other, women and musicians nearby, attendees could interact with sol- diers with authentic tools and gear set up at each area. This being the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, the weekend event was particularly nostalgic. John Gier, a 15-year-old soldier from Weaverville, had family on both sides of the war, he said. After one of the sergeants asked him to get involved in 2009, he has been suiting up for the reenactors ever since. “I got hooked,” Gier said. Pulling an Irish accent, in char- acter, Gier explained to visitors about the 72nd New York Regiment camp alongside his peers. After a thundering, smoke-filled battle, visitors listened to the Fort Point Brass Band or watched artillery or infantry demonstrations. Gun blasts were heard sporadically throughout as skirmishes between straggler soldiers broke out occa- sionally in different areas of the park. The Johnson family, Becca, Scott and J.T., of Redding and Oak Children’s Fair a real free for all By ANDREA WAGNER DN Staff Writer The Tehama County Children’s Fair filled a por- tion of the Tehama District Fairground Saturday with balloons, games, snacks and families. More than 1,500 chil- dren attended with their families, said Jackie Dou- glas, a member of the orga- nizing committee. The event was a “great success,” Douglas said. Guests interacted with booths from some 48 local agencies that are concerned with health and safety of children in Tehama Coun- ty. For the children, it was just a lot of fun. Lori Pano, 8, of Corn- ing, a second grader at Woodson Elementary School, was all smiles with her mom. They come for fun every year, she said. “I like playing,” Pano said. Other families, at the event for the first time, included the Harris family from Shasta Lake. Jenny Harris brought her children, Kanin, 4, and Trinity, 3, when a friend in Red Bluff told her about the fair. “The dance off for the little kids was the funnest,” she said. Kanin and Trinity also tried their luck at roping hay bale cows at the animal farm set up by the Tehama County Farm Bureau. They were also very excited about the beaded bracelets and the balloon swords, she said. Booths were set up on the lawn outside and throughout the inside of two buildings at the fair- grounds. All activities were free and included popcorn, juice and water available for families by the Kiwanis Club. Free books were provid- 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 ed by the Tehama County Reading Council. Dance Red Bluff offered free pho- tos in dress up and dance costumes. While children enjoyed the activities, parents and care providers could get ample information about services and opportunities in the area. “I like that there’s so many services out there and they’re all in one place,” said Aubrey Santil- lan, 32, of Red Bluff. Santillan volunteered for the Child Abuse Pre- vention Council, handing out fliers and information. She was helped by Myisha Gardner, 15, and Tiffany Duclos, 17, who were help- ing children put together blue pinwheels in honor of the Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month. “It’s a good place to network,” Santillan said. She learned about migrant family health and a low-income, sliding scale dentist she hadn’t known about before, she said. See FAIR, page 7A Run, came to the event for the first time. One of Becca Johnson’s friends was participating, she said. Like many who attended, they enjoyed the big guns. “We liked the cannons,” they said. Their enthusiasm was matched by 6-year-old Jacob Biddlecome of Cottonwood. He begged his family to attend, said his mother Angela Martinez. Coming into town to get tires, the family didn’t know the event was going on, Martinez said. They saw the cones and were interested because they had missed the reen- actments in the past. “My 6-year-old kept saying, ‘Can we go? Can we go?’” she said. Jacob was joined by his dad, See FIGHT, page 7A Destination swap meet Daily News photo by Andrea Wagner Games galore and information to spare, parents and children enjoyed the 24th year of children’s programs at the Children’s Fair Saturday at the Tehama District Fairground. Daily News Photo by Andrea Wagner Crowds browse through a variety of items, from potted Japanese maple trees to bedazzled purses, bargain used books to antique dishes, at a Destination Tehama swap meet fundraiser in the Tehama District Fairground parking lot Saturday. Vendor rental fees went directly to the Branding Project, at $20 to $30 a spot. Redding man dies in Afghanistan REDDING (AP) — A 23-year-old soldier from Red- ding has died in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense said on Saturday that Army Spc. Preston Dennis died on April 28 in Kanda- har province from wounds he sustained when his unit was attacked by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y.