Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/391411
SACRAMENTO Gov.Jerry Brown appointed Stewart Knox, of Vina, to the posi- tion of executive director of the Employment Train- ing Panel Wednesday. The 46-year-old Knox has been director at the Nevada County Health and Human Services Agency since 2014. Knox was executive di- rector at the Northern Ru- ral Training and Employ- ment Consortium from 2008 to 2013, at the North Central Counties Consor- tium from 2006 to 2008, at the Verdugo Workforce Investment Board from 2004 to 2005 and for Yuba Community College and Colusa County Workforce Development from 1997 to 2004. The position does not require Senate confirma- tion and the compensa- tion is $136,500. Knox is a Republican. STATE GOVERNMENT Brown appoints Vina resident to executive director position An item in Wednes- day's edition about a fund- raiser contained an incor- rect date. The Pumpkinhead Fam- ily Bike Ride at Ridgeway Park will take place Satur- day, Oct. 11. In Wednesday's B1 story "Coach 'Howie' to be in- ducted there was an error. Bev Howard gave up coach- ing basketball to solely fo- cus on coaching softball, where she remained as var- sity coach until 1989. The Daily News regrets the errors. ItisthepolicyoftheDaily News to correct as quickly as possible all errors in fact that have been pub- lished in the newspaper. If you believe a factual er- ror has been made in a news story, call 527-2151, Ext. 112. CORRECTIONS Wrong date listed for bike ride; error in sports story Mabe: Edith M. Mabe, 87, of Red Bluff died Tues- day, Sept. 30 at her home. Arrangements are un- der the direction of Hoyt- Cole Chapel of the Flowers. Published Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014 in the Daily News, Red Bluff, Calif. Death notices must be pro- vided by mortuaries to the news department, are published at no charge, and feature only specific basic information about the deceased. Paid obitu- aries are placed through the Classified advertising department. Paid obituar- ies may be placed by mor- tuaries or by families of the deceased and include online publication linked to the newspaper's website. Paid obituaries may be of any length, may run mul- tiple days and offer wide latitude of content, includ- ing photos. DEATH NOTICES SACRAMENTO Tehama County has been awarded $78,448 as part of around $86 million being dis- persed around the state to community colleges, school districts, libraries and non-profits. The money comes from the Workforce Investment Act, Title II: Adult Educa- tionandFamilyLiteracyAct. It's purpose is to fund classes in adult basic ed- ucation, high school sub- jects, English as a second language and citizenship. "These funds will help adults learn to read, write, and speak English so they can find good jobs to sup- port their families and be- come more productive members of their commu- nities," State Superinten- dent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in a press release. The Corning Union High School District is receiving $52,467 and the Tehama County Office of Educa- tion received an award of $25,981. EDUCATION Co rn in g Hi gh , co un ty education receive wo rk fo rc e gr an ts By Don Thompson The Associated Press SACRAMENTO A federal judge ruled Wednesday that U.S. bankruptcy law allows Stockton, Califor- nia, to treat public pen- sion fund obligations like other debts, meaning the city could trim its pension obligations. Stockton argued that it must make its pension con- tributions for public em- ployees before its creditors are paid the entire amount they are owned. The case is being closely watched because it could answer the significant question of who gets paid first by financially strapped cities around the nation — retirement funds or cred- itors. The ruling was prompted by a key creditor's conten- tion that pension obliga- tions should be treated like other debts. The judge has not yet ruled on the city's overall plan for exit- ing bankruptcy, which in- cludes continued payment of its pension obligations. In its case against the city, Franklin Templeton In- vestments says the pension payments are fair game as it tries to collect on an un- secured $32.5 million claim against the city. Stockton city Manager Kurt Wilson and its attor- ney Marc Levinson declined immediate comment on the pension ruling as the city prepared to present its overall bankruptcy exit plan later in the day. In making the ruling, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christo- pher Klein said, "Califor- nia public employee retire- ment law ... is simply invalid in the face of the supremacy clause of the United States Constitution." That means federal bankruptcy and contract law applies to the pension fund, "just like anybody else," Klein said. Earlier in the proceed- ings, Levinson said employ- ees of Stockton could be forced to take a 60 percent pension "haircut" if a fed- eral judge rejects its overall reorganization plan. The judge spent much of the morning questioning whether CalPERS and its members enjoy a protected status under federal and state laws. "One can't mess with CalPERS, that's the vernac- ular way of putting it," the judge said at one point, sum- marizing the view of CalP- ERS and Stockton officials. "Is CalPERS a state unto itself?" Klein mused later. Stockton, an inland port city, became the largest city in the country in 2012 to file for Chapter 9 protection be- fore Detroit made the move last year. Before the recession, Stockton leaders spent mil- lions of dollars revitalizing the downtown area with a new City Hall and building a marina, sports arena and ballpark. The city issued about 3,000 permits an- nually to build new homes, and it paid police premium wages and health benefits. With the recession, build- ing dried up, and Stockton became ground zero for home foreclosures. BANKRUPTCY LAW Ju dg e ru le s ci ty m us t pa y creditors and pension fund GOSIAWOZNIACKA—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE Pedestrians cross a street near the Bank of Stockton in Stockton. A federal judge could rule Wednesday on a bankruptcy exit plan for Stockton, an inland port city in California that in 2012became the largest city in the U.S. to file for Chapter 9protection before Detroit filed last year. The Associated Press FRESNO Authorities in cen- tral California are searching for one or more suspects who broke into a Foster Farms chicken ranch and killed more than 900 birds with a golf club. Fresno County sheriff's deputies arrived at the fa- cility in Caruthers, less than 20 miles south of Fresno, on Sept. 20 and found hundreds of birds slaughtered, officials said Tuesday. "Psychopathic behav- ior. It's sick behavior," Dep- uty Chris Curtice told KPIX- TV. "You can't do that much damage to animals and not have blood on your clothing. We want to find out who they are and get them off the street." The suspects apparently pulled back a fence to gain access to a chicken shed and massacred920chickenswith a golf club and possibly an- other instrument, officials said. Investigators found a piece of a golf club at the scene. Foster Farms is offer- ing a $5,000 reward for in- formation leading to an ar- rest and prosecution. "The perpetrator commit- ted an unconscionable act of animalcruelty,"thecompany said in a statement. "This ap- pears to be a random act of violence. It is the express pol- icy of Foster Farms to treat its birds humanely and with compassion. Any intentional act to the contrary is unac- ceptable." SUSPECTS SOUGHT 920 California chickens killed with golf club By Raquel Maria Dillon The Associated Press Sheriff's officials who in- terviewed both Crespo's wife and son said Levette Crespo shot her husband several times Tuesday af- ternoon after he got into a physical altercation with their 19-year-old son. Cre- spo, 45, was pronounced dead at a hospital. No one was arrested, and authorities say the investiga- tion is continuing. A message left with Levette Crespo's at- torney, Eber Bayona, was not immediately returned. At the family's home, in a modern, well-maintained neighborhood of town- houses, a wreath had been placedonthedooroftheCre- spo home. "He was such an awesome person. He was forever walk- ingaround,talkingwithpeo- ple, house to house," said a neighbor, 63-year-old retiree Florence Chavez. Another neighbor, Mar- garita Rios, said any prob- lem she had Crespo would help her solve. "A very good person, very friendly," the 54-year-old nursing assistant said in Spanish, adding she barely knew the mayor's 43-year- old wife, Levette. "She'd leave in the car from the garage. I never saw her. I couldn't even remem- ber her," she said. A biography on the Bell Gardens website said the pair were high school sweethearts who married as teenagers in 1986. They also have a grown daughter. Sheriff's Deputy Crystal Hernandez said authorities believe the two were fight- ing when their son, Daniel, tried to intervene and got into a struggle with his fa- ther. His mother then got a gun and opened fire, Her- nandez said. Bell Gardens, a city of about 43,000, is one of a se- ries of nondescript suburbs located just southeast of Los Angeles. Carved out of what was originally a land grant awarded to a Mexi- can soldier in the 1700s, the 2.5-square mile city is bor- dered by several other small towns. One is the city of Bell, which became synon- ymous with municipal cor- ruption after several former officials were convicted of fleecing millions from tax- payers and padding their salaries. Bell Gardens City Coun- cil members serve part-time and rotate the mayor's posi- tion among themselves. Crespo, who was elected to the council in 2001, had been a Los Angeles County deputy probation officer for 15 years, according to the city's website. Los Angeles County CEO Bill Fujioka said Crespo had been with the department for more than 20 years. SHOT SEVERAL TIMES Wife of slain Los Angeles-area mayor released Findusonline! SAMUELVALENTINEMILLER February 14, 1917 ~ September 10, 2014 Samuel Valentine Miller, 97 ½, died peacefully at Red Bluff Healthcare Center on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 at 3:45 a.m. He was born at home near Grand Okla- homa on February 14, 1917 to Richard and Jenny Miller. After graduation from high school Sam attended barber school and then attended an auto mechanic school. As an auto mechanic he started out in Edgemont California. After that he went to the Chrysler Plymouth garage in Corning California. When he left Corning he worked in both Washington and Montana before returning to Cali- fornia. Upon returning to California is where he worked as Service Manager at Red Bluff Ford and from where he retired. Sam was a 50 year member of Vesper Lodge #84, Past Patron and 25 year member of the Vesper Chapter #20, Order of the Eastern Star, Past President, 1983, Tehama County Shrine Club of Ben Ali Temple, Sacra- mento. As a Shriner he would participate in parades as a Shrine Clown and Santa Claus. He brought joy and laughter to many people, young and old alike. He loved to make people laugh and smile, telling stories and play- ing jokes on everyone. He loved to hunt, fish and camp. He enjoyed traveling in his motorhome with his wife Beth and girlfriend Dee. He saw every state including Hawaii. Although, they took a plane to Hawaii. After retirement, he and his wife Beth were camp hosts at Priest Lake Idaho for 14+ years. They were camp hosts in California at several lakes during the summer and trav- eled to Desert Hot Springs during the winter. He retired from being a camp host three years ago. Sam is survived by his wife Beth Miller of 50+ years, brother's Ronald and Richard Miller, son's Daniel R. Mill- er, Sam V. Miller Jr. and Steven A. Miller, stepson's Don, Gale, Kenny and Randy, several grandchildren, great grandchildren and even a great-great grandchild. Sam is preceded in death by his parents Dick and Jenny Miller, sister's Lela Mae Vincent and Loree Shultz, broth- er's Kay, Luther, Roy and Max Miller, son Colonel Edward Miller. Also, step children Linda and Larry. He had an extended family and lots and lots of friends. His smile and personality will be missed by many. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Masonic Temple, located at 822 Main Street, Red Bluff California. In lieu of flowers dona- tions can be made to the Shriners Children's Hospital, 2425 Stockton Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95817. Obituaries Professional Personal Convenient •PremiumDigital Hearing Aids for every budget • FREE hearing evaluations • Service/Repair, all makes and models • Batteries & accessories • Preferred provider for most insurance plans: Including PERS, Carpenters, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, etc. • Low monthly payment plan available • Trial Period/ Satisfaction Guaranteed AskaboutourOpenFitTechnology Discreet and Comfortable Limited Appointments CALL 1-800-488-9906 Performedforproper amplificationselectiononly. RedBluff Community Center 1500 So. Jackson Wed., Oct. 8, 2014 10:00 am - 3:00 pm THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2014 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |NEWS | 5 A