Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/373084
ies, was consistent with county and statewide re- sults." Actual sales in Tehama County increased 4 per- cent from the same period last year, according to the report, and Far North State sales increased 1.6 percent. Ryan said that sales tax for the 2013-2014 bud- get year is estimated to be $3,000,800, which would be a 7.3 percent increase over 2012-2013. Restaurants and hotels posted slight gains in the quarter, while fuel and ser- vice stations, general con- sumer goods, and busi- ness and industry groups showed declines, accord- ing to the report. Build- ing and construction, and food and drugs groups re- mainedsteadycomparedto last year. "The gains were offset by a weak retail quarter from electronic-appliance stores, which dampened returns from general con- sumer goods," according to thereport,whichaddedthat "lowerfuelpricesnegatively impacted receipts from ser- vice stations. Decreased sales activity was respon- sible for the declines from business and industry." Statewide,newautosales were up 9.4 percent com- pared to the same period last year and was attributed to "pent up demand, con- sumer interest in new fea- ture-rich models and easy financing options," accord- ing to the report. General consumer goods proceedswereflatacrossthe statebecauseofthe"ongoing shift from brick-and-mortar stores to online retailers, many of which allocate the local sales tax to the county- wide allocation pools," ac- cording to the report. The city of Red Bluff saw a 33 percent gain in its shareofthecountywideuse tax pool allocation, which also contributed to the city's "positive outcome," according to the report. Tax FROMPAGE1 An article in Friday's edition about a dog adop- tion event at the Tehama County Animal Control Center contained an incor- rect date. The event begins Tuesday due to the Labor Day holiday. The Daily News regrets the error. It is the policy of the Daily News to correct as quickly as possible all errors in fact that have been published in the newspaper. If you believe a factual error has been made in a news story, call 527- 2151, Ext. 112. CORRECTION The Licensing Board en- courages anyone seeking construction services to check cslb.ca.gov or checkt- helicensefirst.com, it said in apressreleasecitingthesuc- cess of the sting operation. A toll-free automated line is also available at (800) 321-CSLB to check to see whether a contrac- tor is licensed in a given trade or skill. Sting FROM PAGE 1 COURTESYPHOTO Red Bluff High School cheerleader Kaylee Houchins ers make the cut to earn a chance to represent Amer- ica in London. Houchins has been cheering for eight years. She also coaches the Red Bluff Junior Spartans midget cheerleaders and maintains a 3.65 grade point average. Houchins impressed the camp when she was nomi- nated to enter a jump con- test and nailed a perfect toe touch. She earned the All- American Athlete Award, a gold medal to go along with her invitation. At the Anaheim camp 20 girls were chosen, but Houchins was the only one from northern California. The trip to London is scheduled for Dec. 26 through Jan. 2, 2015. Houchins' family is try- ing to raise $3,400 to pay for the trip. A car wash is being held 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Corner- stone Community Bank parking lot. A barbecue lunch will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A raffle is also being planned. An account has been set up at Cornerstone for those who want to donate but are unable to make the fundraiser. London FROM PAGE 1 By Don Thompson The Associated Press SACRAMENTO State cor- rections officials on Friday agreed to shift mentally ill inmates into separate spe- cialized housing that will offer them more treatment instead of placing them in the same isolation units as other inmates, a decision that marks a major shift in how the system deals with such prisoners. The agreement filed in U.S. District Court in Sac- ramento comes after a fed- eral judge ruled in April that California's treatment of mentally ill inmates vi- olates constitutional safe- guards against cruel and unusual punishment. U.S. District Judge Law- rence Karlton acted after the release of videos made by correctional officers that showed guards pump- ing large amounts of pep- per spray into the cells of mentally ill inmates, some screaming and delirious. Under the agreement, the state will create separate short- and long-term hous- ing units for about 2,500 mentally ill inmates who prison officials say must be kept in solitary confine- ment for disciplinary rea- sons. The agreement calls for them to get more treat- ment and more time out of their prison cells. "These new policies em- phasize treatment while in segregation, increased fo- cus on the lengths of stay in segregation, and a thor- ough review of an inmate's risk of decompensation from being housed in seg- regation upon release from inpatient care," the depart- ment said in its filing. Corrections spokes- woman Deborah Hoffman said the department would decline further comment. Michael Bien, whose firm sued the state over its treatment of mentally ill in- mates, called the state's de- cision "a gigantic change" and "a tremendous step for- ward" in removing mentally ill inmates from the state's notorious security housing units and administration segregation units. Experts have said the harsh condi- tions and sensory depriva- tion of the isolation units can worsen psychiatric con- ditions. The isolation units at Pelican Bay and other state prisons drew widespread attention in recent years as thousands of inmates state- wide temporarily refused prison-issued meals to pro- test conditions. "There appears to be a recognition after the trial and the judge's ruling that segregation is a dangerous place and it should be used as little as possible and for as short a time as possible for the mentally ill," Bien said. Among the changes: — Mentally ill inmates will be housed in separate short- and long-term "re- stricted housing units" in- stead of existing isolation units. — They will get more hours of individual and group therapy and more frequent visits with mental health professionals. — They will be let out of their cells more often, for exercise, therapy and for communal time with other inmates. — They will have more diversions while they are locked in their cells, includ- ing televisions and radios. — Inmates deemed too ill for segregation will be di- verted to other units with even more mental health treatment. — The state will indi- vidually review the cases of inmates with long seg- regation terms to see if the inmates need to be in sol- itary confinement and to develop a plan to get them back into the general pop- ulation. The separate long-term facilities are planned at three prisons, while the short-term facilities will be at nine of the state's 34 prisons. The department could not immediately say how much the shift will cost, but most of the men- tally ill inmates will be housed in existing prison segregation units that will be converted to their use. The changes affect more than 30,000 inmates who suffer from severe depres- sion and mental illness that is generally controlled by medication and therapy. About 2,500 inmates in that group are in segrega- tion units on any given day. The most severely men- tally ill inmates, who gen- erally need institutional care, already have their own specialized isolation units. The state also agreed to individually review their cases.. STATE Mentally ill inmates get special units RICH PEDRONCELLI — AP PHOTO An inmate sits by a window at the mental health unit at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's Stockton Health Facility. In an agreement filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento, state corrections official have agreed to shi mentally ill inmates into specialized housing units instead of placing them in the same isolation units as are used for other inmates, Friday. By Scott Smith The Associated Press FRESNO A pair of giant water diversion tunnels proposed for the Sacra- mento-San Joaquin Delta could violate the federal Clean Water Act and in- crease harm to endan- gered fish species, accord- ing to the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency, which released its formal comment on the project Thursday. In a 43-page letter sent to the National Marine Fisheries Service, the EPA said its research found that by diverting freshwa- ter from three new intakes proposed on the Sacra- mento River, the project is likely to increase concen- trations of salinity, mer- cury, bromide, chloride, selenium and pesticides in the Delta. The estuary is habitat for species such as the endangered Delta smelt. Richard Stapler, a spokesman for the state's Natural Resources Agency, which backs the Delta plan, said the state is ad- dressing the EPA's con- cerns. "This is a pretty sprawl- ing effort and probably shouldn't come as a huge surprise that additional refinements need to be made," Stapler said Fri- day. While the state's Bay Delta Conservation Plan would improve water qual- ity for farmers and cities receiving Delta supplies in southern parts of the state, the EPA's regional admin- istrator, Jared Blumen- feld, wrote that federal of- ficials fear more immedi- ate harm. "Water quality could worsen for farmers and municipalities who divert water directly from the Delta," said Blumenfeld, recommending that the state explain in greater detail how it plans to off- set harmful impacts, in- cluding those as far down- stream as the San Fran- cisco Bay. Under development for seven years, the $25 billion project proposes to re-en- gineer the Delta in what would be the biggest water supply project in Califor- nia for decades. It includes two underground tunnels, 40 feet in diameter and 30 miles long, which send wa- ter around the Delta. The plan also calls for creating habitat for fish and other wildlife. Supporters say the proj- ect is aimed at stabilizing natural water flows and easing pumping restric- tions that have cut water exports, while Delta in- terests and some environ- mental groups contend it will rob the Delta of more water and exacerbate ex- isting problems. In addition to receiving the EPA's letter, state offi- cials this week said they will recirculate parts of the draft plan and take more public comment. That will push a final deci- sion on the tunnels — orig- inally scheduled for late this year — well into 2015. The Delta supplies 25 million people with fresh water and 3 million acres of farmland. WATER Feds critical of twin tunnel project VernonnaHagstromAguileraDye Celebration of Life at Cone Grove Park, 9/13/2014 at 3pm. Pot Luck. In lei of flowers please make donations to Vernonna Dye memorial fund to help with expenses at Umpqua Bank, Main St., Red Bluff. Thank you. LEAH ANN FLOYD April 17, 1926 ~ August 24, 2014 Leah was born the youngest of 12 siblings to John Hen- ry and Anna Evans on April 17,1926 in Cameron, Oklaho- ma. She married Jewell L. Floyd, May 14,1944 in San Diego, CA and raised two sons, Jerry and Joe. Leah and her family settled in Los Molinos, CA where she owned Leah's Beauty Salon until she semi-retired. Leah adored children, loved gardening and being with her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, oldest son, and all but one sibling. Leah leaves us with the memory of her instant smile, the twinkle in her eyes and the beauty she saw in everything and good In everyone. Leah is survived by one sister, Eula Mae Cassle, her youngest son Joe, two daughters in law Leslie and Nancy Floyd, 6 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by all her family and many, many friends. She never met a stranger. Graveside service will be held at the Los Molinos Ceme- tery Sunday, September 7 at 2 pm. JOHN W. ROBINSON JUNE 10, 1928 ~ AUGUST 27, 2014 John Wallace Robinson passed away August 27, 2014 in Red Bluff, CA. John was born June 10, 1928 in Fromberg, Montana as the 2nd son of Teunis and Alma Downer Robinson. John spent his young life in Manton, CA, attending Red Bluff Union High School. After serving four years in the United States Navy, he returned to Red Bluff where he worked for Pacific Gas and Electric Company as a survey- or and a draftsman. He was a member of the Red Bluff Masonic Lodge and attended First Christian Church. John was very talented and created beauty in many art forms such as: art on canvas, pottery, woodworking, ornamental glass, to-scale wooden boats and ornamental welding. He was also an author, sailor, and beekeeper. John's greatest legacy is his family and the love he shares with Babs, his wife of 38 years. John is survived by his wife Barbara Hope Robinson; his sister Betty Robinson Wilhite; his children: Kelly Robinson (Sterling) Barrow, Dawn Robinson (Ken) Johnson, Joel (Patti) Pluim, Jeff (Shelley) Pluim, Jill Pluim and Janell Pluim (Rick) Fitzgerald; Twenty-one grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. John is preceded in death by his parents, and brothers William (Bill) and James (Jim). Per his humble request, no services will be held. Words of remembrance can be sent to 1243 Washington St., Red Bluff, CA 96080. HOMEWARD BOUND Obituaries SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 2014 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |NEWS | 9 A