Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/446831
ByScottSmith TheAssociatedPress FRESNO Californiafarmersnow must abide by the nation's strict- est rules for a widely used pesti- cide in a change designed to pro- tect farmworkers and people who live and work near agricultural fields but is likely to raise prices on produce. The restrictions announced Wednesday target chloropic- rin, a pesticide injected into the ground before planting crops such as strawberries, tomatoes and almond orchards. In recent years, the chemical has caused hundreds of people to suffer from irritated eyes, coughing fits and headaches, state offi- cials said. The new regulations surpass standards required by U.S. Envi- ronmental Protection Agency. CHLOROPICRIN California unveils strictest rules on pesticide By Andre Byik abyik@redbluffdailynews.com @andrebyik on Twitter CORNING Construction of the second phase of the Corning Community Park on Houghton Avenue, which includes two soc- cer fields, a playground area, rest- rooms and other features, is near- ing completion, and state officials are scheduled to inspect the park this month. The Corning City Council on Tuesday approved a contract change order of $24,048, which increases the total contract amount for the second phase of the park to roughly $1.1 million. Trent Construction out of Ger- ber, which handled construction the first phase of the park, also was awarded the contracting bid for phase two. The Corning Community Park has been funded through a $4.2 CORNING Community Park nears completion Secondphaseofpark on Houghton Avenue has been in 120-day maintenance period By Andre Byik abyik@redbluffdailynews.com @andrebyik on Twitter RED BLUFF A Red Bluff man ac- cused of striking his wife and her mother with a hammer pleaded not guilty Tuesday to attempted murder charges, according to on- line court records. Mark Lawrence Brewer, 55, entered the plea in Tehama County Superior Court. A pre- liminary hearing, in which a judge will determine if there is probable cause that a crime had been committed, was scheduled for Jan. 27. Tehama County sheriff's depu- ties on Dec. 27 responded to West View Way in Cottonwood after a 911 caller reported someone was trying to kick in her door, accord- ing to Tehama County Sheriff's Office press release. Candi Brewer, 53, said her soon to be ex-husband entered the res- idence and began striking her mother, according to the release. Deputies found Candi Brewer cov- ered in blood and learned that she and her 74-year-old mother, Bar- bara Knight, had been struck in the head and upper body with a hammer. Knight was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Redding with skull fractures. Mark Brewer was not located at the time, but deputies that eve- ning found his disabled truck at the intersection of Big Pines and Quail Ridge roads, according to the release. Deputies also report- edly saw him run into a wooded area, but were unable to find him at the time. TEHAMA COUNTY Manenterspleainhammerattack Mark Lawrence Brewer charged with two counts attempted murder a er allegedly attacking wife, her mother By Rich Greene rgreene@redbluffdailynews.com @richgreenenews on Twitter RED BLUFF In the first two months since Proposition 47 has been in effect there have been 52 cases in Tehama County where a sentence has been reduce un- der the new state law. The Tehama County Dis- trict Attorney's Office released a memo to area law enforcement and the media Wednesday de- tailing the affected cases. "It's pretty startling when you put it on paper like this," Assis- tant District Attorney Matt Rog- ers said. At least 17 offenders had their felony convictions reduced to misdemeanors and were granted release not just from incarcera- tion, but from parole as well. Rogers said the office is pre- paring for a similar number of cases in the near future. Under Proposition 47 defen- dants convicted of felonies, re- gardless of when the offense oc- curred, can petition the court for the charge to be reduced to a misdemeanor. California voters passed Prop- osition 47 under the "Safe Neigh- borhoods and Schools Act" name in November. Rogers said the name is one of many reasons, voters are still confused about its local effects. "There seems to be a lot of confusion about it in the pub- lic -- a lot of misinformation -- frankly, quite a few people who don't know what it is and what it entails and the changes it cre- ated," he said. Under the law most drug pos- session and theft offenses are now misdemeanors instead of felonies. "We're going to continue to prosecute cases, the differ- ence being state prison or lo- cal prison won't be available as a punishment as it was before," Rogers said. The latter of which is a dou- ble problem in Tehama County where the jail is at capacity ev- ery day. "People can still go to jail for misdemeanors, but with the current state of the jail -- where they have only so many spaces and far more people that need to be in there -- it creates an even bigger challenge of trying to incarcerate misdemeanor de- fendants," Rogers said. "There's simply not enough space to keep everybody that needs to be in there." Rogers described Prop 47 as a radical change and said his office still views what it should do in response as an open ques- tion in need of more than one answer. He said the public's contin- ued support of a jail expansion and more opportunities for al- ternative custody programs are starters. CRIME SENTENCE REDUCTION Prop 47 leads to new wave of releases Calendar............... Sports..............B1 A+E..................A5 Opinion............A6 Classifieds......B7 Weather..........B8 Index...............## INDEX The Red Bluff Art Association has named Vivian Nestel as its Artist of the Month for Janu- ary 2015. PAGEA5 A+E Nestelannouncedas Artist of the Month The Spartans have yet to translate their hot start to a win in league play losing Tues- day in Chico. PAGE B1 SPORTS Red Bluff boys lose close in at PV Pope travels to war-torn north Sri Lanka, urges forgiveness for 'all the evil' that took place. PAGE B5 NEWS Pope travels to war-torn north Sri Lanka Trail camera photo confirms another wolf has come to OR-7's territory in southwest Oregon. PAGE A7 NEWS Another wandering wolf arrives in Oregon RICH GREENE— DAILY NEWS The start of Proposition 47and Tehama County Jail's overcrowding problems has led to more defenders being released earlier than the Tehama County District Attorney's Office would prefer. "People can still go to jail for misdemeanors, but with the current state of the jail -- where they have only so many spaces and far more people that need to be in there -- it creates an even bigger challenge of trying to incarcerate misdemeanor defendant." — District Attorney Matt Rogers CORNING PAGE 7 PESTICIDE PAGE 7 Brewer PLEA PAGE 7 » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, January 15, 2015 50CENTS AN EDITION OF THE CHICO ENTERPRISE-RECORD 7 58551 69001 9 Volume130,issue40 Good morning, thanks for subscribing Kristine Hiemstra BASKETBALL Lady Spartans face PV Sports B1 EXCHANGE CLUB Talent needed for annual show Lifestyles A4 FORECAST High: 63 Low: 46 B8 Grow?Ranchorride? Readaboutlocalandnational Ag, rural, ranch and rodeo news and commentary. VISIT REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM/ RODEO DOYOU RODEO?