Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/312552
ByAndreByik abyik@redbluffdailynews.com @andrebyik on Twitter CORNING Expect More Tehama sought to develop evidence-based programs for student achievement at its annual education summit at Rolling Hills Casino on Wednesday. The event drew educators, ad- ministrators, businesspeople, par- ents, students and more to learn and discuss the organization's six focus areas, which seek to make sure children are prepared for school, demonstrating academic competency, aware of college and career opportunities, and engaged in gaining skills needed for college or a career after high school. Other focus areas for Expect More Tehama, which aims raise expectations of student perfor- mance and opportunities in the county, seeks to make sure that young adults are completing col- lege or career training, and that adults are "equipped to be an en- gaged, self-sustained citizen." Tim Morehouse, who sits on the Expect More Tehama leader- ship council, spoke on the area that seeks to find that all adults are en- gaged and self-sustained members of the community. He said a culture shift of de- pendency to self-sufficiency does need to be seen, but also added that thinking people should just pull themselves up by their boot- straps wouldn't necessarily yield that result, as many people don't have the boots to pull themselves up by. "We have a system where we have over 25 percent of our stu- dents dropping out of high school," he said. Morehouse, who also teaches po- litical science at California State University, Chico, said the six fo- cus areas will allow Expect More Tehama to identify indicators that can be measured going forward. "That way we can start doing continual improvements, so that we actually start measuring to see if the things we're doing are impacting the things we wanted to impact," he said. Speakers on the day included students who have been accepted to universities out of high school, and also later in life, such as Jen- nifer Ragsdale, who is working to- ward transferring to Chico State. Ragsdale, 41, said she realized in 2010 that she needed to make a change. "I had two small children in my home, and I was a homemaker, I was unemployed, and I was going through some personal struggles," including being in an abusive rela- tionship and struggling with addic- EXPECT MORE Annual education summit held RED BLUFF A boy arrested Tues- day morning at Red Bluff Union High School is suspected of being tied to at least 20 graffiti reports throughout Red Bluff. The boy,whose name was not re- leased, was arrested around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and charged with one count of felony vandalism, ac- cording to a press release issued Wednesday afternoon by the Red Bluff Police Department. An investigation began in April, when video surveillance showed a boy defacing school property on one of the school's buses. School of- ficials contacted School Resource Officer Aaron Murray. Over the course of the investiga- tion, several other locations were found with similar graffiti, the re- lease said. Since February, at least 20 other Red Bluff locations were identifiedandtheestimatedcoststo remove the graffiti exceeds $4,300. At least two victims haven't been located by investigators. The boy was booked into the Te- hama County Juvenile Justice Cen- ter. Anyone with further informa- tion is asked to contact the Red Bluff Police Department at (530) 527-3131. VANDALISM Youtharrestedtiedtograffiti Juvenileissuspectedinatleast20graffitiincidents,policesay Staff reports RED BLUFF A small brush fire ignited Wednesday afternoon on the west side of Interstate 5 near Antelope Boulevard in Red Bluff after utility lines fell across the freeway, snarling traffic for about two hours. About 4 p.m. officials blocked north and southbound I-5 traf- fic near the Antelope Boulevard overpass as utility lines report- edlyfellacrossalllanes,thesouth- bound off ramp and northbound on ramp. Firefighters knocked down the blaze about 4:15 p.m. I-5 traffic in the area was di- verted through Red Bluff, caus- ing backups on South Main and Main streets as motorists found alternate routes. The freeway was cleared about 5:30 p.m. GRIDLOCK DOWNED WIRE, FIRE SHUT DOWN I-5 ANDREBYIK—DAILYNEWS A firefighter knocks down a brush fire on the west side of Interstate 5near Antelope Boulevard on Wednesday. Utility lines fell across the freeway, jamming traffic for about two hours. Community.....A3 Lifestyles........A4 A + E ................A5 Opinion............A6 Sports.............. B1 Weather ..........B8 Index............... ## INDEX Acclaimed musicians are coming to Red Bluff as part of the Tehama Concert Series. Tickets now on sale. PAGEA5 A+E Ticketsonsalefor concert series Red Bluff's so ball team beat Foothill twice on Tuesday, extending their winning streak to 20straight games. PAGE B1 SPORTS Lady Spartans extend winning streak to 20 Majority are allowed to return to their homes in San Diego and Santa Barbara counties, as blazes are put out. PAGE B4 WILDFIRES Firefighters work to contain SoCal blazes A new study finds some tests could cost Medicare about $2 billion annually, meaning an increase in premiums. PAGE B3 HEALTH Lung cancer screenings a he y tab for Medicare North and southbound lanes on Interstate 5were blocked for about two hours Wednesday a er utility lines fell across the freeway. Traffic was blocked for two hours The Associated Press SACRAMENTO A bill to make California the first in the nation to impose a statewide ban on plastic bags at certain retailers passed a key legislative commit- tee on Wednesday, but the legis- lation faces staunch opposition from bag manufacturers work- ing to stem a flood of local bans meant to end clutter in landfills and beaches. Senate Bill 270 passed the Assembly's Natural Resources Committee on a 5-3 vote follow- ing the failure of similar bans on single-use grocery bags in recent years. The latest legislation won support from grocers for includ- ing a 10-cent fee on paper bags and from a handful of local plastic bag makers for including $2 mil- lion for worker training and as- sistance to shift to production of reusable bags. "It will prove that having a greener economy and cleaner environment is not mutually ex- clusive with the preservation of jobs," said state Sen. Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, a bill co- author along with Sen. Alex Pa- dilla, D-Los Angeles. California, Massachusetts and Washington have consid- ered statewide plastic bag bans this year to protect water and parks from a buildup of litter, ac- cording to the National Confer- ence of State Legislators. Those efforts follow the lead of munici- palities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose, that have such bans in place. Bill sup- porters say one statewide prohi- bition on single-use bags and one set of standards for reusable bags would make it easier for Califor- nia businesses to follow the law. A national coalition of plas- tic bag manufacturers has taken its fight to television, airing ads against the legislation. The group calls it a money grab by grocers and says it threatens 2,000 jobs in the state. "The last thing I ever expected was for our product to become ENVIRONMENT Bill to ban plastic bags advances past key committee SUMMIT PAGE 7 BAN PAGE 7 » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, May 15, 2014 50CENTS AN EDITION OF THE CHICO ENTERPRISE-RECORD 7 58551 69001 9 Volume129,issue125 Today's web bonus Cannes Film Festival. redbluffdailynews. RODEO State high school final qualifiers Sports B1 GIRLS INC. Annual May Day for girls event Lifestyles A4 FORECAST High: 95 Low: 56 B8 Grow?Ranchorride? Readaboutlocalandnational Ag, rural, ranch and rodeo news and commentary. VISIT REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM/ RODEO DOYOU RODEO?