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ByAndreByik abyik@redbluffdailynews.com @andrebyik on Twitter CORNING » For the first time since it closed in 2006, the historic Rodgers Theatre in downtown Corning is scheduled to open its doors later this month. A live entertainment event, which will also serve as a sort of "open house" for the theater on Solano Street, has been set at 7 p.m. March 24. A flier advertising the event — "An Evening at Rodgers Theatre" — says, "Come Celebrate the Transformation." Admission is free to the pub- lic, and refreshments will be served. "It's a huge milestone for the community," City Manager John Brewer said Wednesday. The event is sponsored by the city of Corn- ing, the Corning Chamber of Commerce and the Corning Communitiy Foundation. The theater, which was erected in 1935, has un- dergone years of rehabilitation since it last closed, Brewer said. Work has included a roof replacement, recon- structed restrooms, installation of heating and air conditioning units, and, most recently, reha- bilitation of the theater's floor, among other im- provements. Ahead of the event later this month, officials plan to continue work on the theater's floor on Saturday, Brewer said. The city of Corning took ownership of the the- ater in 1991. In 2006, the theater was closed after a city inspection revealed several deficiencies in the facility, according to city documents. The city's intent, Brewer said, was to not just CORNING Historic Rodgers Theatre By Heather Hacking hhacking@chicoer.com @HeatherHacking on Twitter CHICO » "Hope is not a strategy" when it comes to water supply, said Bryce Lundberg, chairman of the Northern California Water Association (NCWA). Lundberg Family Farms has grown rice in the Sacramento Valley for generations, and could not do so without a steady source of water. Last week Lundberg officiated at a gathering of hundreds for the NCWA annual meeting, held at the Sierra Nevada Brewery's Big Room in Chico. He said he thanks "God for those water advo- cates of past generations for developing settle- ment agreements that create certainty in times when (water) systems are stressed." Now it is the responsibility of the current gen- eration to make sure there is enough water for future generations, he said. SITES RESERVOIR Supportfornew surface storage continuing Speakersatannualmeetinghope for momentum for Sites Reservoir BerniceSnivelyhasbeen chosen as the Red Bluff Art Association's Artist of the Month for March. PAGEA5 A+E Snivelychosenas Artist of the Month The Red Bluff Spartans baseball team won its league opener 3-0Tuesday at Shasta. PAGE B1 SPORTS Red Bluff baseball wins league opener 3-0 Americans' confidence in all three branches of government is at or near record lows, a survey finds. PAGE A8 ALL THREE BRANCHES Americans' confidence at or near record lows A man and a boy in an Islamic State video showing the killing of a Palestinian are identified as French citizens. PAGE B5 FRENCH CITIZENS France identifies man, boy in video of killing Staff reports REDBLUFF» ATehamaCounty Sheriff's Office K9 has been awarded an extra coat of pro- tection, the office announced Wednesday. The nonprofit organiza- tion Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has recently awarded the Sheriff's Office a ballistic vest that will help shield the sher- iff's K9, Booker, from bullet and stab wounds, according to a news release issued by the Sheriff's Office. According to the office's website, Booker is partnered with deputy Ryan Frank. The office's other K9, Streiter, is partnered with deputy Curtis Knight. Twelve other K9s in the state, including K9s in Gilroy, Mill Creek, Montebello, Tulare, Lompoc, California City and Alhambra, also received pro- tective vests after the Haus- man Family Foundation do- nated $15,000 to the nonprofit, according to the release. The vests cost $950 apiece. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. was established in 2009 and has provided more than 1,250 law enforcement dogs with protective vests at a cost of roughly $1.1 million, accord- ing to the release. "The nonprofit was estab- lished in 2009 to assist law enforcement with this poten- tially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 offi- cers," the release states. TEHAMA COUNTY Sheriff's K9 awarded ballistic vest COURTESY Booker has recently been awarded a ballistic vest. By Rich Greene rgreene@redbluffdailynews.com @richgreenenews on Twitter REDBLUFF» Race teams from across the country will con- verge at the Tehama District Fairgrounds this weekend for the 11th annual Outlaw Kart Nationals. The event caps the 2014- 15 Red Bluff Outlaws season, but also serves as a chance for kart drivers from around North America to experience the famous Red Bluff track. Red Bluff Outlaws Presi- dent Ali Abbassi compares what Red Bluff is to kart rac- ing as what Bristol is to NAS- CAR. "This is where the cream of the crop of the competition is," he said. Abbassi said drivers are coming from Idaho, Mon- tana, Texas, North Carolina and even Canada to compete. This year organizers have expanded the event to three days and an increase in spon- sorship money is adding to an increase in the talent pool. The racing begins 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Pauline Davis Pavilion and contin- ues through Sunday. Outlaw Sprint Kart racing has been taking place in Red Bluff for more than three de- cades as caged, winged, high tech karts fly around the 1/16th mile track known as the "The Bull Ring." "Our track is tight. It takes a lot of talent to go in there and do well," Abbassi said. Drivers ages 5 to 45 com- pete in five different classes: beginner box stock, box stock, 250 intermediate, open and sportsman classes. The Red Bluff Outlaws es- timate more than 5,000 driv- ers have taken part in races at the fairgrounds. Drivers have gone on to compete in every level of NASCAR, the National Sprint Car and Midge Cham- pionship races, USAC and the World of Outlaw Spring Car Series. Qualifying begins 3:30 p.m. Friday with trophy dashes at 6 p.m. Friday night also will include the Nu-Way Market Box Stock Challenge. The second round of qual- ifying heats begins 1 p.m. Saturday and continues throughout the day. Main events begin at 11 a.m. Sun- day. Spectator tickets are $15, kids ages 6-12 are $5 and children younger than 6 are free. "You won't be disap- pointed," Abbassi said. RACING CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WEEKEND COURTESY The 11th annual Outlaw Kart Nationals begins Friday at the Pauline Davis Pavilion at the Tehama District Fairgrounds. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. was established in 2009 and has provided more than 1,250 law enforcement dogs with protective vests. West Coast Outlaw Kart Nationals start Friday Community.....A3 Lifestyles........A4 Opinion............A6 Sports.............. B1 Comics ............B3 Food.................B4 INDEX toreopen City-owned theater has been closed since 2006 REOPENING » PAGE 7 WATER » PAGE 7 » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, March 12, 2015 50CENTS AN EDITION OF THE CHICO ENTERPRISE-RECORD 7 58551 69001 9 Volume130,issue80 Good morning, thanks for subscribing » Brandy Glenn ARTS COUNCIL Student Art Contest winners named A+E » A5 FUNDRAISER Library plans Spring Bunco Bash Community » A3 FORECAST High: 79 Low: 48 » B8 FollowtheDailyNews on Twitter to keep pace with breaking news and events @REDBLUFFNEWS FOLLOWUS ONTWITTER