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FRIDAY MAY 13, 2011 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com Bloodied, but unbowed See Inside Select TV RED BLUFF Winning streak Sports 1B Weather forecast 10A Mostly sunny 80/50 By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer There is overwhelming oppo- sition to closing state game refuges, according to a report to the state legislature by the Department of Fish and Game. The report, which was recent- ly made public, is a result of pub- lic input and comments the department has gathered in regards to its proposal to elimi- nate the refuge status of 19 state game refuges, effectively open- ing those areas to hunting. Game Refuge 1G in eastern Tehama County is among those slated for closure. The department received more than 5,000 responses with an overwhelming majority against 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 Opposition mounts against refuge closure eliminating the refuges. About 90 percent of written and e-mailed responses were against elimina- tion, while 64 percent of survey respondents were against it, according to the report. The greatest number of responses were made as a result of “action alerts” by anti-hunting groups. There was a general miscon- ception, particularly involving refuges in the Bay Area, that elimination of the refuges would limit human recreation. The pur- pose of the refuges was not for recreation. Those opposed to elimination cited reasons that included being against hunting, protection of deer migration corridors and the incompatibility of hunting to A full copy of the report is available on the department’s Website at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/gamerefuges/ other forms of recreation. Those in favor of elimination cited mostly pro-hunting reasons. Among the respondents who commented specifically on Game Refuge 1G are local government officials that include the Tehama County Fish and Game Commis- sion. The commission has said it does not support the closure because the area is a key route for deer migration. Without the refuge status deer are in risk of being overhunted. Game Refuge 1G encompass- es nearly 90,000 acres in eastern Tehama County. The land is mostly public, owned by the U.S. Forest Service and timber compa- nies Sierra Pacific Industries and Collins Pine. A small portion is privately owned by individual ranchers. State game refuges were established in the early 1900s as no hunting zones with the intend- ed purpose of managing deer population, according to the report. That purpose has not been fulfilled and the increase in deer population could be better attrib- uted to other processes and pro- tection. The state’s conservative River celebration hunting regulations make the refuges an unnecessary manage- ment tool. While the department has made it clear that the refuges are no longer necessary, it is up to the Legislature to make the decision to eliminate the refuges. The Legislature assigned the department the task of gathering public input on the proposal before making its decision. From July to December 2010, the department solicited input. Throughout the process, the See REFUGE, page 9A Suspects elude cops Shasta County drug enforcement agents were involved in a case that led to the failed pursuit of suspects through Red Bluff Wednesday. Red Bluff Police officers and Tehama County Sheriff’s deputies assisted in searching for a silver Ford Fusion that eluded officers in north Red Bluff, said Special Agent Super- visor Eric Maher. The Tehama Interagency Drug Enforcement task force was helping with a Shasta County drug enforcement opera- tion, Maher said. The vehicle, identified as an Enterprise rental car, headed west from Main Street on Highway 36W, police logs said. It was last seen near Monroe Street by an officer in an unmarked car just before noon. The Fusion occupants were described to police officers as a white male adult and a black male adult, logs said. How- ever, other reports indicated that a white female and a black man with a black shirt and white cap were inside the vehicle, sheriff’s logs said. Agents, officers and deputies searched for the vehicle along Highway 36W, Baker Road and surrounding areas, but couldn’t find it. It is unclear why the vehicle was fleeing from officers, Maher said. They just wouldn’t stop. -Andrea Wagner Courtesy photo The Celebration of the River on Saturday will be extra special for the young. Special to the DN The Sacramento River Discovery Center’s “Celebrate the River” Watershed Celebration on Saturday is shaping up to the biggest and best ever. The day begins with a walk-run at 8:30 a.m. There will be a 1 mile Free Fun Walk/Run. Registration for the 1 mile, 5K or 10K Walk/Run is available at the center or www.sweatrc.com, or you can pick up registration forms at the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce office, 100 Main St. The Boy Scouts will start the cel- ebration event with a flag ceremo- ny. By 9 a.m. there will be many vendors that will be providing information or items for sale. The Red Bluff Art Association will have a display and some local crafters will tables. There will be a variety of food offered by the Red Bluff High School Natural Resource Interns, the Twilford family and Girl Scouts. The high school interns will be selling some of their native and drought tolerant plants for $5 a pot. Other activities include nature, bird and garden walks. Demonstrations will be provided on water conserva- tion and on GPS. New this year from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be a wine and cheese tast- ing with products from Mount Tehama Winery, Rosser’s Bakery and Pedrozo Dairy and Cheese Co. For a $5 donation you will receive a special SRDC wine glass and a chance to win a case of wine. The Tehama County Sheriff’s Office will have a K-9 unit for peo- ple to meet and will be sharing some boating safety tips. The Red Bluff Fire department will have an engine for the young to climb on and learn the importance of pre- venting fires. There will be an ani- mal petting area where young peo- ple can come eye to eye with ani- mals with very soft fur. There will be visits from Frank and Frances Fish, Smokey Bear and maybe even something with real wings and feathers. There will be a silent auction with a number of wine gift baskets plus items for your home and yard to help the center raise funds for the Summer Camps programs. Appli- cations are being accepted for the six weeks of Summer Camps directed by Zach Whitten. There will be lots to see an do for the whole family Saturday at the center located within the Mendoci- no National Forest’s Red Bluff Recreation Area at 1000 Sale Lane. For more information about the activities call 527-1196, or e-mail ccramer@tehama.k12.ca.us or check the Website www.srdc.tehama.k12.ca.us. The center is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Man arrested after breaking into Jeep An Oregon man was arrested Wednesday after being spotted breaking into a vehicle at The Home Depot. Three Red Bluff police officers were dispatched to the Main Road business after a report of a man breaking into a Jeep in the parking lot at about 4:45 p.m., said Sgt. Kevin Busekist. The suspect was described as a white man wearing a bandana who had been seen yelling at passersby and flipping them off, police logs said. Upon arrival at the offi- 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 cers saw Randall Dean Crow, 33, of Salem, Ore., walking away from the green 2006 Jeep where a witness had seen him damaging the soft top and getting into the vehicle, Busekist said. The interior of the Jeep was ransacked and it was unknown at that point what, if anything, was missing. Crow was arrested on one count of felony bur- glary. After Crow was booked, the owner of the Jeep, Baylie Cotton, 24, of Red Bluff, arrived at the police department, Busekist said. Cotton told officers she had parked the Jeep at the store’s parking lot and carpooled to a police academy college course, he said. She identified several of the items found in Crow’s possession as belonging to her. This included $5 in coins and a silver watch. The soft top to the Jeep was ruined during the bur- glary along with the glove box door, Busekist said. Crow was booked at the Tehama County Jail with bail set at $50,000. -Andrea Wagner Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Marlee Meadows, 10, of Red Bluff was crowned 2011 Corning Jr. Rodeo Queen Thursday by 2010 Queen Tommie Hammons, left. As queen she received a saddle spon- sored by Dan and Patti Wells of Millville, a buckle sponsored by Luke Alexander Con- struction of Corning, a tiara sponsored by Tres Rios and Richfield Feed and Supply, both of Corning, and a gift certificate from McCoy’s of Corning. First Runner-Up was Amelia Massie, 11, of Hamilton City. Also competing were Shelby Murphy, 17, of Red Bluff and Kate Picha-Arndt, 13, of Corning. The Corning Jr. Rodeo starts at 7 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on Sunday. It is held at Estil C. Clark Park, corner of Fig Lane and Marguerite Avenue. For more information call 824-4295 or 824-3777. $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 5000.00 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the theft of our cattle. $ or 530-527-6332 ANONYMITY GUARANTEED Please contact us at 530-520-9399 REWARD OFFERED John Owens offering COMPUTER SKILLS CLASS Wed., May 18, 2011 9:30am to Noon Job Training Center 718 Main St., Red Bluff $49.00 per person Call 529-7000 BASIC