Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/339581
ever-growing global de- mand for almonds and al- mond products." Dave DeWalt, deputy di- rector of Pacific Region Of- fice, NASS, said the fore- cast is up 7.7 percent from the May 1 subjective fore- cast of 1.95 billion pounds. As of the May 2014 posi- tion report, the estimate is up 4.63 percent from the 2013—2014 crop production of 2.007 billion pounds. The average nut set per tree is 6,646, down 0.6 percent from the 2013 al- mond crop. The Nonpareil average nut set is 6,121, down 0.3 percent from last year's set. The average ker- nel weight for all varieties sampled was 1.45 grams, up 6.6 percent from the 2013 record low average weight of 1.36 grams. "Acres planted with al- monds have increased al- most 15 percent since 2007, according to the 2012 USDA Ag Census," said Richard Waycott, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California. "Al- mond acreage has grown consistently over the years as our family farmers have built their businesses sus- tainably to meet global al- mond demand." For additional informa- tion contact the Almond Board of California at (209) 549-8262 or visit Al- monds.com. Almond FROMPAGE1 now-detective Aaron Mur- ray, filed 191 reports of gang activity that resulted in 66 citations and 55 arrests. The grand jury applauded school and law enforcement officials for their efforts in raising awareness of gang activity, and recommended that the high school's ad- ministration seek addi- tional grants to "enhance campus security and cre- ate a five-year implementa- tion plan." The grand jury report comes on the heels of a memorandum written by Joe Harrop, the Red Bluff Joint Union High School District's interim superin- tendent, which questioned the value of the high school's school resource officer. The high school district contributed about $68,000 toward the on-campus offi- cer's salary, benefits and re- lated computer software in the district's 2013-2014 fiscal year, according to the memo, The district also estimates about $1.2 million in deficit spending in the coming year. "Whether or not an SRO on campus is worth that amount is subject to debate. If we can get one who will interact with students, es- tablish rapport with them, and be out and around at passing times and when students come to or leave school, the SRO could be a valuable asset," Harrop wrote in the memo, which was acknowledged by the district's board of trustees at its meeting June 17, and spurred a full-throated de- fense of the school police of- ficer position by Red Bluff Police Chief Paul Nanfito. "The consensus is that this year's SRO was not worth what we paid for, and the Police Department has been informed about our concerns," Harrop said. As it stands, the high school district has budgeted for a school resource officer for the coming school year. In additional findings, the grand jury noted that the high school has about 50 surveillance cameras that are monitored by the school's resource officer, but thatthey do not "adequately monitor the entire campus," and are not connected to the Red Bluff Police Department. The grand jury recommended that the school should buy and upgrade the surveil- lance system as funds allow, and connect the cameras to the police department. Other grand jury recom- mendations included eval- uating whether Red Bluff High School could become a closed campus, implement- ing photo identification for school personnel, and in- stalling GPS tracking sys- tems on school buses by the 2015-2016 school year. "In the event that a driver is unable to communicate with his/her dispatcher, ad- ministration would be able to track down the location of the bus," the grand jury report said. The grand jury requested a response to its recommen- dations from the Tehama County Department of Ed- ucation and Red Bluff Joint Union High School District superintendent. Safety FROM PAGE 1 On the Commission's agenda Thursday are the requests for two rezones as well as a use permit re- quest from Verizon Wireless to build a an 80-foot mono- pole communications tower east of Red Bluff at the cor- ner of Gurnsey Avenue and Belle Mill Road. Verizon says the cell phone tower will provide cellular service to the east side of the city and a great portion of the unincorpo- rated area along Antelope Boulevard and State High- way 36. The proposed site is zoned residential, but a communications tower can be permitted under the county's Zoning Ordi- nance. The proposed project would be designed to look like a tree with equipment shelter replicating a house. The county received two letters of concern from nearby neighbors of the project. Both suggested Verizon consider other sites. The Commission will also hear two rezone re- quests. The first is for property located south of the city of Corning on the southeast corner of the State Route 99W and Viola Avenue in- tersection. The applicant is propos- ing changing 10 acres in the General Plan Designa- tion from Rural Residen- tial-Small Lot to General Industrial and rezoning the area from Agriculture- Valley District to Light In- dustrial-Special Highway Frontage Combining Spe- cial Parking Combining District. The applicant has no pro- posed development project. The second rezone is for around 140 acres in the Bowman area, along the north side of Bowman Road and south of the South Fork of Cottonwood Creek, about a half-mile west of the Bow- man and Benson roads in- tersection. The applicant proposes rezoning from Exclusive Agricultural-Special Build- ing Site Combining District to One Family Residential- Special Animal Combin- ing- Special Mobile Home Combining- Special Build- ing Site Combining Dis- trict. The proposed plan would create an additional four parcels including a pair of 10-acre parcels, a 19 acre parcel and a 14-acre parcel. The remaining parcel would be around 98 acres. Plan FROM PAGE 1 By Fenit Nirappil TheAssociatedPress SACRAMENTO California voters could weigh in this fall on the growing influ- ence of money in politics under a bill that advanced Monday. The legislation calls for an advisory ballot mea- sure asking if voters want an amendment to the U.S. Constitutional clamping down on corporate cam- paign giving. The state Assembly ap- proved SB1272 on a party- line 49-22 vote, with Re- publicans in opposition. The bill is expected to pass the Senate with amend- ments and head to Gov. Jerry Brown. In 2010, the U.S. Su- preme Court gave a green light to unlimited corpo- rate spending in elections in the case of Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission. The ruling has been de- cried by Democrats for unleashing a torrent of spending enabling the wealthy to wield outsized influence in politics. If signed by Brown, SB1272 by Sen. Ted Lieu, D- Torrance, would place the advisory measure on the November ballot asking voters if they want a fed- eral constitutional amend- ment overturning the Citi- zens United ruling. The Assembly vote came after the Legislature peti- tioned Congress last week to hold a constitutional convention for such an amendment. "While this Legislature is on record supporting an amendment, it's time to let the people's voice be heard," Assemblyman Das Williams, D-Santa Bar- bara, said as he presented the bill. All amendments to the U.S. Constitution have been passed with two-thirds votes in both houses of Congress. How- ever, striking an agree- ment on campaign spend- ing with supermajorities in the House and Senate is unlikely given the divided Congress and deep parti- sanship. Another avenue for amendments is a conven- tion that can be called if two-thirds of state legisla- tures ask Congress, though that has never happened. SACRAMENTO Legislature seeks voter sentiment on campaign cash The Associated Press YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK Yosemite National Park on Monday marked 150 years since President Abraham Lincoln signed an act pro- tecting the park for gener- ations of visitors. The celebration in- cluded a groundbreaking to launch a project restor- ing the Mariposa Grove, which consists of 500 ma- ture giant sequoia trees that are among the oldest living organisms in the world. National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said the anniversary should be a reminder of the ancient treasures within the park. "We stand in awe among these giant trees that are thousands of years old and are reminded about the importance of protecting our natural resources so that future generations can experience what John Muir called 'nature's forest masterpiece,'" Jarvis said. Lincoln signed the Yo- semite Grant Act on June 30, 1864, in the midst of the Civil War. The act pro- tected Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove "for public use, resort and rec- reation." The law was the first in the nation's history allowing for a scenic nat- ural area to be set aside. The grove restoration project was approved in December 2013. The $36 million project is paid for through $20 million in pri- vate contributions raised by the Yosemite Conser- vancy and $16 million from the National Park Service. A parking lot that threatens the trees' roots will be moved to another area and replaced with footpaths, among other changes to the park. The work will happen in phases over several years. "The project will re- store much of the Mari- posa Grove to its natural state," said the conservan- cy's president, Mike Tollef- son, "so that visitors will be able to experience one of the world's most inspir- ing natural cathedrals in a more serene setting." PARKS Yo se mi te c el eb ra te s 15 0t h an ni ve rsa ry GARYKAZANJIAN—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Visitors at Tunnel View, like Kaori Nishimura and Eriko Kuboi, from Japan, center facing, enjoy the views of Yosemite National Park in 2013. By Paul Elias The Associated Press The justices without comment left in place lower court rulings against Drakes Bay Oyster Co. The owners said later at a news conference in San Francisco that they would keep fighting to stay in business. "It's not over until the last oyster is shucked," Kevin Lunny said. Lunny said he and his lawyers are considering sev- eral options but didn't spec- ify their next step to keep the oyster farm operating and its workers on the job along Point Reyes National Seashore, north of San Francisco. Lunny said pursuing a legislative solution is one option because Congress could override the Depart- ment of Interior and issue the farm a permit. Lower courts have al- lowed the farm to keep op- erating through the appeals process. The case began in 2007 when the Department of In- terior made it clear it would not renew the oyster farm's 40-year lease when it ex- pired in 2012. the agency cited a 1976 Congressional decision to return the wa- ters of Drakes Estero to wil- derness status. The department also cited research critical of the operation's effects on harbor seals, which use the estuary to reproduce. Scrutiny of the research, however, unearthed errors and omissions that critics say showed park officials had an agenda to get rid of the oyster farm. Lunny bought the oyster company in 2004, figuring he and his lawyers could ne- gotiate a long-term lease ex- tension. Lunny, whose family has owned a cattle ranch over- looking the estuary since 1947, said his case is impor- tant to a dozen other fam- ilies with cattle ranches within the national park who have not had their gov- ernment leases renewed. "We feel this is abso- lutely important fight to continue," Lunny said in his lawyer's office after the high court ruling. "Thirty work- ers stand to lose their jobs and this effects the ranch- ers within the Point Reyes Seashore." Jessica Kershaw, a De- partment of Interior spokes- woman, didn't return phone and email inquiries about its plans to close the oys- ter farm. Lunny's lawyer Peter Prows said he intends to speak with federal officials soon to determine the next steps. "At the moment, the farm is open," Prows said. The farm previously en- listed the support of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. When park service lawyers determined the agency did not have legal grounds to issue a new permit, Fein- stein authored 2009 leg- islation allowing the Inte- rior secretary to issue 10- year permits. Nonetheless, the department declined to issue a permit to the oys- ter farm. Lunny said he had spo- ken Monday with Fein- stein's office. The office didn't return a call from The Associated Press seek- ing comment. BUSINESS Oyster farm owners eye options a er ruling GERALD HERBERT — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Baked oysters are on display at the Bourbon House Restaurant in New Orleans in June. TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2014 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |NEWS | 7 A