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Wednesday, June 8, 2011 – Daily News 5A Obituaries MARK WESLEY LEON June 2, 2011. He leaves behind his mother Jackie Leon of Red Bluff, CA., brothers and sisters Robert and Randy Leon of Los Molinos, Carol and Donald Taylor of North Carolina, Susan and Chris Kirchmaier of New Mexico, Louis Leon of Washington, Dan and Debbie Martin of Ari- zona, and several nieces and nephews. Mark was an Iron Worker for 20 years for Flwming Building Co. of Tulsa, OK., he built the Wal-Mart Ware- house in Red Bluff, and many more all over the United States. He loved to fish and hunt and ride quads. Mark was born in Susanville, CA in 1962, he was 49 years old, and will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Death Notices Peggy Ann Banes Peggy Ann Banes of Corning died Sunday, June 5, 2011, in Corning. She was 63. Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers is handling the arrangements. Published Wednesday, June 8, 2011, in the Daily News, Red Bluff, Calif. Victoria Carswell Victoria Carswell, of Red Bluff, died Tuesday, June 7, 2011. She was 57. Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers is handling arrangements. Published Wednesday, June 8, 2011 in the Daily News, Red Bluff, Calif. BROWN Continued from page 1A month, the Supreme Court gave California two years to remove more than 33,000 inmates after the justices ruled easing con- gestion is the only way to improve unconstitutionally poor inmate medical and mental health care. The high court upheld an order by a three-judge panel overseeing the prison crowding lawsuits against the state. The administration’s response outlined all the state’s efforts in recent years to reduce its prison population, including send- ing about 10,000 inmates to other states. But its compli- ance with the order hinges almost entirely on realign- ment plans that Brown signed into law in April to shift responsibility for thousands of lower-level inmates to counties. The shift cannot take effect unless local govern- ments get the money to provide jail cells and reha- bilitation services, and funding for that remains stalled in the Legislature. Republican lawmakers have blocked Brown’s pro- posal for an extension of temporary tax increases that are set to expire by the end of this month. Renewing the recent increases in the vehicle, sales and personal income taxes is essential to fund- ing Brown’s plan to shift low-level offenders to county jurisdiction. The Supreme Court had indicated it might consider a request for a delay in its order, which includes benchmarks in reducing overcrowding along the way. But Cate said it was too soon for that. The Brown administra- tion has won considerable support from law enforce- ment and local government for the realignment plan, provided the money is in place. ‘‘We’ve got to have the money,’’ said Steven Whit- more, spokesman for Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca. ‘‘Without the money it becomes a signif- icant challenge.’’ Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway of Tulare restated the GOP argument that realignment puts the public at risk and is fiscally irresponsible because it uses temporary taxes to pay for a perma- nent change in the way prisoners are held. ‘‘We can address the long-term prison popula- tion problem by building more beds with funding that is currently available and meet the short-term needs by contracting with in-state and out-of-state facilities,’’ she said. Brown’s May revised budget proposal includes nearly $1 billion from extended sales taxes and vehicle license fees to cover state and local costs of shifting low-level offenders and parole viola- tors from prisons to local jurisdictions. Brown has insisted any tax extensions be approved by voters, even though the same number of votes would be needed to extend the taxes in the Legislature as would be needed to put them on the ballot. Some fear work on realignment would begin and voters would reject the tax exten- sions. ‘‘We expect the voters to agree to it’’ when they hear all the arguments, Cate said. ‘‘The governor has told the sheriffs we’ll find a way to fund this. You have to.’’ But cash is just the most pressing issue on realign- ment. ‘‘Nobody knows how many prisoners it’s going to be, when it’s going to happen, or how much they’re going to pay us to do their job,’’ said Sgt. J.D. Nelson, a spokesman for Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern. The coun- ty already houses about 500 prisoners under con- tract for the state, Nelson said, but no one knows what terms would govern the new prisoner transfers, he said. Associations represent- ing California counties and the state’s police chiefs voiced support for Brown’s plan. ‘‘The governor’s plan for realignment can work ... if it’s funded,’’ said Dave Maggard, president of the California Police Chiefs’ Association. Mark Wesley Leon went home to the Lord on Thursday, SENIOR Continued from page 1A back,” Michael Ryant said. “It’s the same reason I’m joining the Navy.” Michael said he enjoyed working on the project because helping people makes him feel good. As an added bonus, Daniel Ryant’s boss gave him two days off with pay to be able to supervise the boys in the project and provided tools and equip- ment. The trio had already cleared enough brush from the first project to fill an eight-foot tall, 23-foot- long trailer twice the day before, when they put in six hours. Don and Sheila Borrelli are two of the homeowners the boys helped in Rancho Tehama and both have had medical problems that make meeting the 100 foot defensible space require- ment on their four-acre property tough. “I was so concerned about taking care of the fields,” Sheila Borrelli said. “When Dan (Ryant) told me they were coming, I was so excited I dropped the phone.” A group of seniors went to Los Molinos where they painted fences on Singer Avenue. Other students went to Gerber School to work as classroom aids and help with Gerber School Field Day activi- ties. At Jackson Heights Ele- mentary School, seniors Greg Wilson and Richard Penne worked to beautify the playground. Penne said he loves the idea of the Make a Differ- ence Project and it’s a great way to spend the last few days. “It’s a fabulous thing that they’re doing,” said Jackson Heights Principal Dottie Renstrom. Monday was spent POOL Continued from page 1A group can secure the full $65,000 needed to keep the pool open for a full nine- weeks season. Blues for the Pool, a non- profit that was formed in 2002 to raise money for pool maintenance, has, in a way, taken over all pool costs, including maintenance and operation. The pool is an asset that gives children and families a place to go during the sum- mer, said Danielle Jackson, secretary. It has provided a safe place for children to swim over the many years it has been open, and Blues for the Pool would like to con- tinue to offer that protection to every child. “Our pool is essential,” Jackson said. “Our commit- tee still believes one child who drowns is one child too many, and that’s why were here.” During a round of budget cuts last June the Red Bluff City Council wanted to close the pool for the 2011 season. Members of Blues for the Pool quickly drowned the idea by offering to raise the funds to fully support the pool. The Council agreed the pool can open if 100 percent of the funding was obtained from somewhere other than the city’s General Fund. Since then, Blues for the Pool has been rapidly swim- ming toward their goal of Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Red Bluff High School Seniors Alynda Ellis, Haley DiDio, Matt Meaders and Brittney Anderson work on a quilt Tuesday at American Embroidery as a part of the Seniors Make A Difference Day project. cleaning up the border around the playground and cleaning windows, since the weather kept them from painting, Wilson said. “We went to school here so we thought we’d give back,” Wilson said. Wilson’s mother is employed at Jackson Heights, which allowed them to scope the school out ahead of time, Penne said. “It gave us a chance to come out here and figure out what needs to be done,” Penne said. “We chose the playground because it’s the most used spot in the school. The paint gets worn out and it’s one of the most needed jobs.” Doing things like paint- ing the border around the playground is something that is a tedious job that often gets passed up, he said. Seniors Haley DiDio, Alynda Ellis and Brittney Andersen made quilts for the Antelope Volunteer $65,000 and a full summer season. The group has already committed $13,500 for June, but still needs about $45,000 to keep the pool open the rest of the season, July 1 through Aug. 13. A portion of the dona- tions have come through the 400 Club, an idea developed by the group that if 400 indi- viduals, businesses or orga- nizations each donated $100 it would help keep the pool afloat. Many people have shown their support and made donations, said Danielle Caito, pool manager. “The community’s sup- port for the pool has been and continues to be remark- able,” Caito said. “The sup- port alone shows how valu- able the community finds the McGlynn pool.” The group’s effort has touched those beyond the community and was a stim- ulus for the upcoming River Park Festival. The three-day event should draw many Red Bluff Union High School alumni, and their families, to their hometown to support a childhood icon. The festival, slated for June 24-26, could bring in a large amount of the funding that is still need- ed to keep the pool open in July and August. Blues for the Pool will be hosting another fundraiser, Wine Tasting by the Pool, in July to further ensure a full nine-weeks season. In the meantime, the pool Fire Department of the Tehama County Fire Department. Under the supervision of Jeannie Garton and with help from senior Matt Meaders, who helped after he’d finished his own pro- ject for the day, the group made six quilts in two days. Garton originally made quilts and donated them to the Tehama County Sher- iff’s Deputies to be given to children who have been taken from their homes or been in an accident or another tragic situation. The Antelope volun- teers saw what the deputies were doing and asked Gar- ton if she could make some for them, she said. After hearing about Garton’s “Quilting for Children” project, DiDio decided to get involved and brought Ellis and Andersen on board with her. “I know the quilts mean something to the kids and I know these students are seniors, but it’s coming will open Monday. Public swim hours are 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Sundays and evenings can be reserved for private parties. Pool admis- sion is $2 per person. Four two-week swim les- son sessions will be avail- able. Pre-registration can be done at the Red Bluff Com- munity and Senior Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. For information on Blues for the Pool or Wine Tasting by the Pool, call 529-0556. from kids to kids and it makes me so proud,” Gar- ton said. The quilts are individ- ual size and are big enough that children can grow into them and still use them as adults. Each piece of mate- rial, most of which was donated, was carefully chosen, DiDio said. “I’ve definitely learned a lot,” DiDio said. “We learned how to quilt, but the best feeling is it’s going to kids. You never know who it goes to. It could be someone you know like your brother or sister so you think about what you would want them to have and put that thought into giving it to someone else.” All three girls said they plan to continue working on the project even after graduation as often as they can fit time in. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews. com. USA Continued from page 1A Please include your name, age and phone number so we can inform winners. Look into your hearts and tell us and your com- munity what makes Amer- ica unique as a nation. What better way to remind yourself and your commu- nity the true meaning of Independence Day? THE PASSING PARADE A raft of folks I’ve known well, went to their reward these past few months...and Larry LaLaguna, who was 88, is certainly a contender for best known in the private as well as the public sector. As a 9 year veteran of the Tehama County Board of Supervisors, petitioners and those in the employ of Tehama County soon learned he did not suffer fools gladly. As an example, he was once listening to a lengthy report on projected costs of mosquito abatement, when he interrupted the speaker( it might have been Mel Oldham) and said, “All this is well and good...but have you killed any mosquitoes yet?” or words to that effect. He was as practical on the Board as he was as a cattleman. He had common sense and therefore admired my father Dave Minch and father’s general manager John Hoy. He must have even liked their mode of dress for he emulated their plain attire. Put it another way, he was seldom a suit and tie man in Red Bluff. However, according to son Larry Junior, Larry Senior was born in San Francisco, was well known in the North Beach area, had close ties with restaurant owners, and dressed accordingly when visiting same. He ran many cattle on his ranch south of town over the years...the ranch being purchased from the late Butte Tyler, another splendid name from the past. But as a cattleman, Larry differed from his contemporaries because of the breeds he favored. No pure bred Herford or Angus trappings for him. He purchased dairy, crossbred and Corriente cattle which were cheaper at the auctions, and found they prospered and gained very well on winter range as well as irrigated pasture. This was about the time when leaner cuts of beef were coming into favor with the housewife. We knew the cattleman side of Larry from his trips to our old meat plant 2 miles west of town. As a Supervisor and taxpayer, he could be quite vocal when confronted with government spending at all levels. After I lost the plant and started in the real estate business, Larry would often stop by to give me the benefit of his financial wisdom as well as his political stance on all manner of things. He was opinionated and then some. As time went by and his age began to creep up on him, his visits became less frequent but his phone calls continued as did his outrage for all things wasteful. If you have any questions, please contact Tehama County Planning Department (530) 527-2200 8a.m.-5p.m. M-F The last time I called him, I asked what he could tell me about certain eccentrics in manner and attire in the livestock and sheep business such as Ed Noble. There was a silence and then an admission. “You know, Robert...my memory is not so good lately...and I’ll need to get back to you on that”. But he didn’t, and that was the first time I ever found that outgoing, outspoken fellow to be at a loss for words. R.I.P Larry LaLaguna 1923-2011 The Passing Parade is brought to you by by Minch Property Management, 760 Main Street specializing in commercial leasing and sales. 530 527 5514