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ByAndreByik abyik@redbluffdailynews.com @andrebyik on Twitter RED BLUFF St. Elizabeth Community Hospital on Thursday introduced a taste of the future in the way of its new telecommunication ro- bot. The RP-VITA Remote Presence Robot, developed by Intouch Health and iRo- bot, stands about five feet tall and is able to navigate the hospital's halls and beam in specialists in neurological care. The advantage for patients is the ability for a physician and specialist to collaborate and determine treatment options within minutes, said Jim Roxburgh, director of Dignity Health Telemedicine Network. "It's used in a variety of ar- eas where there's a need to get a specialist where there isn't a specialist available," Roxburgh said. "We use it for mental health, behavioral health, we use it for ICUs, we use it for pediatrics, neonatal critical care, just about any special- ity that you would find where it's not readily available," he explained. The robot, complete with cameras, sensors and moni- tor that can be controlled re- motely by on-call doctors in specialized medical fields, is the first of its kind at St. Elizabeth Community Hospi- tal, and it will go live in June. At the kickoff event at the hospital, Dr. Asad Chaud- hary, director of Dignity Health Telestroke, was beamed in to the robot, peri- odically commanding the ro- bot to turn its monitor like a human head as he gave a pre- sentation on stroke symp- toms and treatment. Treating certain kinds of strokes quickly can mitigate irreparable brain damage, Chaudhary explained. Dignity Health's Telemed- icine Network allows physi- cians to access a network of on-call specialists at all hours of the day. Across California and Ar- izona, Roxburgh said, about 65 robots are in use by Dig- nity Health. ST. ELIZABETH HOSPITALPRESENTS ROBOT-AIDED CARE By Andre Byik sports@redbluffdailynews.com @andrebyik on Twitter RED BLUFF Red Bluff police announced that this week marks the end of the of the first semester of Gang Resistance Education And Training classes taught at Vista Preparatory Academy by the school's resource officer. The GREAT classes reached the school's 190 seventh grade students and were taught by Officer Sean Baxter, according to a department press re- lease. Over the course of 13 weeks, students learned about gangs, violence and crime in their commu- nity, developed personal goals, decision making skills, communication skills and conflict resolu- tion techniques, among other skills. It was the first semester GREAT classes were taught in the Red Bluff area, according to the re- lease, and "Several students have already reported back to Officer Baxter about using their newly learned skills in real life applications." At the Red Bluff City Council meeting Tuesday, council members unanimously approved a mem- orandum of understanding between the city and Tehama County to continue funding the officer po- sition for another year. The position is funded by money provided to police departments to mitigate the effects of state prison realignment, and prison realignment funds approved by the county's board of supervisors. Police Chief Paul Nanfito told council members that Baxter has been very busy at the school, re- VISTA PREP Students given GREAT education School'sresourceofficerfinishes first semester CORNING Mayor Gary Strack presented a plaque to Patricia Rasmussen re- cently in appreciation for her 10 years of service on the Corning Healthcare District Board. Rasmussen first joined as a director of Corning Healthcare District in 2004. At the very first meeting in which Rasmussen was ap- pointed to the position, she accepted the office of sec- retary-treasurer. In the last 10 years, she has held the office of president five times, vice president twice and secretary-treasurer twice. There were only two years during her decade of service, in which she did not hold an office. The mayor also ex- pressed his appreciation for Rasmussen's volunteer work for the city library. "She served for seven years on the Library Board," Strack said. "We appreciate someone who so diligently researches issues that are to come before the governing body." "She has never taken her responsibility as a Corning Healthcare District direc- tor lightly," said Shirley Fay, district manager. "Presi- dent Rasmussen is an hon- est and forthright person." "I enjoy working to bring health related services to our community," Rasmus- sen said. When asked about the political aspects of be- ing on the Healthcare Dis- trict Board Rasmussen re- sponded, "I'm not afraid to deal with difficult issues, or confront injustice when I see it." Attorney for the district, Thomas Andrews, said the CORNING Rasmussen honored for 10 years of service COURTESY Mayor Gary Strack presents a plaque to Patricia Rasmussen for her service to the Corning Healthcare District. By Andre Byik abyik@redbluffdailynews.com @andrebyik on Twitter RED BLUFF The Tehama District Fair board wants to hold a session with community members to gather insight and ideas that could develop a vision for the future of the Tehama District Fair- ground. No date for the session has been set yet, but board members said a facilitated session where the fair's stakeholders can share their ideas about the direction they want to see the fairgrounds go has been overdue. "I think it's time, I think it's overdue and I would really like to hear some ideas and some direction," said Greg O'Sullivan, the board's vice president, during the board's Tuesday meeting. O'Sullivan said one of the things the fair board knows it has to do is generate more revenue, and that some of the fair's best promoters and cus- tomers could help establish where the fairgrounds needs to go, and how to get there. He added that a session that brings leaders together also could show Gov. Jerry Brown that the fair is serious about moving forward. The fair board and Tehama County have gone FAIRGROUND Fair board to seek input from community Officals say town hall-style session could provide vision for fairground's future Sports.............. B1 Lifestyles........A5 Puzzles............B5 Opinion............A4 Classifieds......B6 Weather ........ A10 Index............... ## INDEX Group closes out its year with business meeting, mysteries and annual picnic. To start 115th year in October. PAGEA3 FITZHUGH Literarysocietyreports its activities for May The Shasta Regional Community foundation seeks grant applications for community fund. PAGE A5 FUNDING Foundation seeks grant applicants from area Compromise measure expands on Obama directive to end agency's bulk collection of citizen phone records. PAGE B4 SPYING House advances curbs on NSA surveillance Bid to end period of govern- ment upheaval has potential to deepen Southeast Asian nation's political crisis. PAGE B8 WORLD Thai military seizes power in bloodless coup GREAT PAGE 9 SERVICE PAGE 9 BOARD PAGE 9 PHOTOS BY ANDRE BYIK — DAILY NEWS Jim Roxburgh, director of Dignity Health Telemedicine Network, right, introduces Dr. Asad Chaudhary, director of Dignity Health Telestroke, who was beamed in to give a presentation on stroke symptoms and treatment. St. Elizabeth Community Hospital introduced on Thursday its new telecommunication robot, which can navigate the hospital's halls and beam in specialists to provide acute medical advice. "I enjoy working to bring health related services to our community. I'm not afraid to deal with difficult issues, or confront injustice when I see it." — Patricia Rasmussen » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, May 23, 2014 50CENTS AN EDITION OF THE CHICO ENTERPRISE-RECORD 7 58551 69001 9 Volume129,issue131 Today's web bonus Survivor Cagayan photos. redbluffdailynews.com STUDENTS Charter school takes field trip Education A8 SOFTBALL Anderson knocks off Corning Sports B1 FORECAST High: 93 Low: 66 A10 FollowtheDailyNews on Twitter to keep pace with breaking news and events @REDBLUFFNEWS FOLLOWUS ONTWITTER