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TUESDAY JULY 19, 2011 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com Ride, rope and learn See Inside American Profile RED BLUFF Still winning Sports 1B Mostly sunny 88/61 Weather forecast 8B 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 State pension funds grow more than 20 percent SACRAMENTO (AP) — Cal- ifornia’s two largest public pension funds posted their highest invest- ment returns since before the recession, with each reporting returns of more than 20 percent for the fiscal year ended June 30, the investment teams announced Monday. Despite the windfalls, both funds still face tough questions about whether they will be able to meet their obligations to millions of retirees and their families in the long run However, the top-drawer returns gave new ammunition to pension supporters against calls by critics for sweeping pension reform at the state Capitol or through the ballot box. ‘‘These healthy returns at a time when the economy is struggling should put an end to the doom- and-gloom scenarios of politicians who want to take a wrecking ball to our state’s pension funds,’’ said Dave Low, chairman of Californi- ans for Retirement Security, a coalition of public employee groups. Public pension costs have drawn political pressure and efforts to drastically revise the system at the Capitol or at the polls. Public employees have been pushing back, arguing that pensions can be fixed with relatively minor ‘‘These healthy returns at a time when the economy is strug- gling should put an end to the doom-and-gloom scenarios of politicians who want to take a wrecking ball to our state’s pen- sion funds.” — Dave Low, chairman of Californians for Retirement Security changes to curtail abuses and that the recession’s effects would dwin- dle over time. Retirement benefits are paid from investment returns and from contributions made by workers and the governments that employ them. Every dollar generated through investments is a dollar that doesn’t have to come from one of those other sources. The California Public Employ- ees’ Retirement System, the nation’s biggest public pension fund, reported a one-year return of 20.7 percent, with gains in nearly every investment category. That preliminary figure was the Girls with gumption By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The Red Bluff cloth- ing company Girls with Guns, Inc. (GWG), con- tinues to fire on all cylinders. Co-founded by friends and fellow- shooters Norissa Har- man and Jennifer Adams, the company has come a long way from its humble begin- nings. GWG is set to have their line be carried by a sporting goods chain as well as launch an exclu- sive team-up design and new website. When the two formed a partnership in Novem- ber 2008, they had no idea it would get this big, Harman said. “It’s very exciting,” Harman said. “We still work full time, but we’re so blessed and thankful to have two great jobs and to see our side job really take off. It’s nice to work for two companies who really understand.” Harman works for PJ Helicopters and Adams works for Remax. In the beginning, the girls started out with hand drawing, embroi- dering and pressing hats in their garage, but in 2010 they were able to move from a 10-by-12- foot area to a warehouse in Red Bluff that gives them a lot more room to work in, Adams said. The ladies are also grateful for the support of everyone in their local community and Harman said she espe- cially loves driving around town and seeing GWG stickers on pass- best after-fees return in 14 years for CalPERS, which oversees ben- efits for 1.6 million current and retired state and local government employees and their families. It’s also the second consecutive year CalPERS topped the 7.75 per- cent investment return target See FUNDS, page 7A Man crashes stolen car By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer A Corning man was arrested by the California Highway Patrol after crashing a stolen vehicle late Sunday evening near Sacramento Road and Olive Road in the Corning area. Andrew Joseph Banue- los was driving east on Sacramento Road when he came to the T-intersection with Olive Road and fail- ing to stop at the end of the road, ran into and crashed through a metal and wire fence. Andrew Banuelos Banuelos was driving a 1990 Pontiac Firebird that sus- tained moderate damage and was found to have been stolen from a residence on Sacramento Road, California Highway Patrol Officer Phillip Mackintosh said. The 23-year-old was not injured, but did damage about 80 feet of fence and had hit a stop sign during the crash, Mack- intosh said. Banuelos abandoned the Pontiac and attempted to flee the scene, but was apprehended a short while later by Tehama County Sheriff’s Deputies and turned over to CHP, he said. Charges against Banuelos are pending for suspicion of driving under the influence, having a blood alcohol content over .08 percent, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, hit and run and driving on a suspended license, Mackintosh said. Supes to hold public Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb The Red Bluff clothing line Girls with Guns, Inc. is to be carried by Sportsman’s Warehouse. Pictured are co-founders Jennifer Adams and Norissa Harman. ing vehicles. “We’re growing,” Harman said. “It comes in spurts, but we’ve just launched our line in Sportsman’s Warehouse in June.” GWG is available in six stores to start with including one in New Mexico, one in Nevada, three in Arizona and one in Rocklin, near Sacra- mento. If all goes well the clothing line will be launched in all 29 of Sportsman’s Warehouse stores, Adams said. The clothing, also available at The Loft, 501 Madison St., in Red Bluff, has expanded to include Huntington’s in Oroville, Great Western Co in Eureka, Aidin Supply in Aidin and Mosquito Creek in Plac- erville, she said. Clothing, gun bags, shell bags and other accessories, including pink camouflage lug- gage, are available on See GWG, page 7A hearing on redistricting The Tehama County Board of Supervisors meet- ing at 10 a.m. today will include two public hear- ings, including redistricting, in the Supervisors Chambers, 727 Oak St., in Red Bluff. The board is holding the first of two public hear- ings that are required prior to a redistricting of the supervisorial district boundaries. The redistricting is required after each decenni- al federal census in order to make the districts as equal in population as possible. The hearing is expected to start at 10:45 a.m. or sometime shortly thereafter. A public hearing will also be held in regards to See SUPES, page 7A Firefighters kept busy over weekend By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Firefighters were kept busy in Tehama County over the weekend with several fires, including two vegetation fires that burned several acres. • One vegetation fire was reported by the first unit on scene as being a 5- acre structure fire with a fully-involved mobile home at 5 p.m. Sunday on Riverside Avenue, cross of Rawson Road. The electrical-caused fire was reported at 4:47 p.m. and burned a total of 12 acres before it was contained at 5:31 p.m. CalFire and Tehama County responded with PG&E responding to assist. Damage was $20,000 with a $25,000 save. The last unit cleared at 8:39 p.m. •A vegetation fire reported at 10:23 a.m. on Meadowlark Lane in Corning was caused by a debris burn escape. The fire was initially reported by the first unit on scene at 10:36 a.m. as a 3-acre fire. Total acreage burned 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 was 10 acres at the time of containment, which was 10:56 a.m. The fire did $500 damage with a $350,000 save to nearby residences. CalFire, Tehama County Fire and Corning Volunteer Fire Department responded. The last unit cleared at 2:21 p.m. • A structure fire was reported at 4:08 p.m. Sat- urday in the 1500 block of Carmel Way, cross of Scottsdale Way, in Red Bluff. The residents were not home at the time, but a neighbor saw smoke and extinguished the fire with a garden hose. The fire did $800 damage to the rear deck, $300 of which was to a wooden table, potted plants and other items on the deck. Per the owners, the fire was possibly caused by a discarded cigarette, a Red Bluff Fire spokesman said. The last unit cleared at 5:08 p.m. •A vegetation fire on Little Bit Lane in the Bowman area of Cotton- wood reported at 8:37 a.m. Monday burned an acre of grass. The fire, contained at 9:07 a.m., was a debris burn escape. CalFire and Tehama County Fire responded. The first unit arrived at 8:56 a.m. The last unit cleared at 11:06 a.m. •A vegetation fire was reported at 9:29 p.m. Sat- urday at Reeds Avenue and Mill Street behind Raley’s The origin of the FIREARMS COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR Smog Inspection $ 2595 + cert. (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) Pass or FREE retest 195 S. Main St. Red Bluff 530 527-9841 TRAINING Concealed carry JULY 23RD & 24TH Walt Mansell 527-1154 Early morning & evenings handgun class for 1st time applicants 25-by-15-foot spot fire is unknown and the cause is undetermined. Red Bluff Fire cleared the scene at 9:49 p.m. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews .com. Are you tired of those ugly, thick, painful fungal PODIATRY CENTER toenails? AEROFEET Painless Topical Treatment THAT REALLY WORKS. Treat your neglected nails and cracked feet in time for spring sandals! Call today for an appointment (530)527-7584