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ByRichGreene rgreene@redbluffdailynews.com @rgreenenews on Twitter RED BLUFF Tehama County schoolchildren were once again encouraged to plant a tree as part of festivities held this month in honor of Arbor Day. Local professional foresters were scheduled to make presen- tations in 25 schools across the county from March 9 through the end of the month. Around 6,500 conifer seedlings were being given out to kinder- garten through eighth grade stu- dents. The seedlings have the poten- tial to grow as much as 80 to 100 feet in 30 years. ARBOR DAY Countyschools celebrate trees By Andre Byik abyik@redbluffdailynews.com @andrebyik on Twitter RED BLUFF The applicant pool for the vacant City Council seat here has ballooned as council members mull either appointing someone to the seat or calling a special election. The City Council has until March 27 to appoint someone to the seat left vacant by Or- ville Knox's resignation in Jan- uary. After that point, a special election that could cost the city between $15,000 and $20,000 would automatically be called. Council members on March 3 heard from two applicants — Mitchell Drury and Dustin Ma- ria — but decided then to post- pone a potential appointment to its regular meeting on Tuesday. Since then, five more City Council hopefuls have expressed interest in the seat whose term expires in December 2018, ac- cording to the City Council's agenda. RED BLUFF Interest increases for vacant council seat Applicantpooljumps from two to seven By Andre Byik abyik@redbluffdailynews.com @andrebyik on Twitter REDBLUFF Red Bluff Police Chief Paul Nanfito has been placed on paid administrative leave, City Manager Richard Crabtree con- firmed Friday. Nanfito has been the subject of an internal investigation fol- lowing allegations from local law enforcement groups in recent months. Crabtree said in an email that he was unable to answer ques- tions regarding the investigation or what prompted the decision to place the police chief on leave. In a press release, he said, "This is a confidential person- nel matter," adding that the city "is prohibited from commenting further." The Red Bluff Peace Officers Association (POA) on Dec. 2 pre- sented a vote of no confidence in Nanfito to the City Council, al- leging that his leadership style is partly to blame for a high attri- tion rate and poor morale at the Police Department. An attorney for the group, Brett Sherman, said at the time: "Chief Nanfito's management style is adversarial and stems from posi- tional power as a narcissistic man- ager. He leads by fear and intimida- tion and has bred a culture of fear and discontent within the Red Bluff Po- lice Department." The Tehama County Deputy Sheriffs' Asso- ciation (DSA) in January voted to support the POA's effort to re- move Nanfito from his post. In a letter addressed to City Coun- cil members, the president of the DSA, Dustin Maria, wrote, "It is our opinion that Chief Nanfito has derailed the mission of the Police Department from pro- tecting and serving the public to serving his own ego." Mayor Clay Parker on Friday said the complaints brought forth by the POA and DSA have been in- vestigated, and that the city's in- vestigation is coming to a close. He added that personnel mat- ters are confidential, and that the city manager handles the hiring and firing of department heads. "We'll see what happens," Parker said. Nanfito didn't respond to an email seeking comment, but he has previously said the allega- tions made by the law enforce- ment groups amounted to a smear campaign. Red Bluff police Capt. Kyle Sanders, who has been with the Police Department for 18 years, will take charge in the interim. Parker said Sanders has the full support of the City Council and the city manager. Nanfito was officially promoted to the position of police chief in 2012 after serving in the role on an interim basis since 2009. Nanfito earns about $178,000 in salary and benefits, and his contract with the city expires in June. RED BLUFF POLICE DEPARTMENT Chiefplacedonadministrativeleave By Rich Greene rgreene@redbluffdailynews.com @richgreenenews on Twitter RED BLUFF The Berrendos Middle School gymnasium had the atmosphere of a play- off game Friday, but it wasn't a win the student body was af- ter — it was smiles. Berrendos once again played host to High Hoops, a basket- ball tournament designed for fourth through eighth grade special education students across the county. Amy Clement, an occupa- tional therapist with the Te- hama County Department of Education, said the idea was to give an opportunity for stu- dents to play in a real and in- clusive basketball game. Special education students played alongside their Berren- dos peers, racing up and down the court for around a dozen different teams. Current and former Berren- dos students played the roles as referees, scorekeepers, cheer- leaders and even as extra, shorter baskets themselves. The day began with the Berrendos students instruct- ing the players through a va- riety of drills from footwork and dribbling to lay-ups and jump shots. Eighth-grader Saul Ro- driguez was one of those who helped teach basketball drills. "I felt really good helping the other people," he said. Each station included the name of a college or university. Jody Johnson, an adapted physical education specialist with the Department of Educa- tion, said organizers wanted to include the No Excuses Univer- sity and Expect More Tehama programs within the event. Shasta College had a repre- sentative on hand with informa- tion for disabled students and the programs and services that are offered by the college locally. Tristen Hobart, another eighth-grader who helped lead drills, said his favorite part of the day was seeing all of the happy faces when someone made a basket. EDUCATION SLAMS AND SMILES Annual High Hoops game a fun time for local students DAILYNEWSPHOTOBYRICHGREENE The annual High Hoops event at Berrendos Middle School is a basketball tournament that includes special education students with their peers. Community.....A3 Lifestyles........A4 Opinion............A6 Sports.............. B1 Comics ............B7 Farm ................ A7 INDEX John Minton authors the debut of the new Daily News' Tehama County Veterans Corner column. PAGEA4 VETERANS CORNER DebutofTehama County Veterans Corner Lane Pritchard hits a grand slam as the Spartans won two games at the Oroville Tournament. PAGE B1 BASEBALL Pritchard hits grand slam for Red Bluff Days before he was killed in a helicopter crash, a Marine was awarded one of the highest honors for heroism. Page B4 MEDAL FOR HEROISM Marine awarded Silver Star days before crash "I felt really good helping the other people." — Saul Rodriguez, eight-grader Protesters call for calm but vow to keep pushing for change in Ferguson a day a er officers were shot. Page B6 TENSIONS Protesters urge calm in Ferguson a er shooting Nanfito COUNCIL PAGE 11 TREES PAGE 11 » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, March 14, 2015 $1.00 AN EDITION OF THE CHICO ENTERPRISE-RECORD 7 98304 20753 8 Volume130,issue81 Good morning, thanks for subscribing Terry Baker BASKETBALL Red Bluff star signs with Simpson Sports B1 JEAN BARTON Spring will be here soon Farm A7 FORECAST High: 78 Low: 55 A12 LiketheDailyNews on Facebook and stay in the loop on local news, sports and more. VISITFACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS LIKEUSON FACEBOOK