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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2011 Breaking news at: 3rd Annual Turkey Trot Lassen View www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 2A RED BLUFF Mercy Hoops Preview SPORTS 1B Sunny 60/40 Weather forecast 4D DAILYNEWS TEHAMACOUNTY DAILY 50¢ T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 'Gott Trees' Bus driver pleads innocent to DUI Staff report A Corning Union High School bus driver has plead- ed not guilty to child endangerment charges for report- edly driving under the influence while taking students to school, according to Tehama County Superior Court records. Laura Lynn East, 50, of Corning, faces 17 felony counts of child endangerment, one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence and one misdemeanor count of hit and run, according to the Tehama County District Attorney's Office. On Nov. 22, East pleaded not guilty and was See DRIVER, page 5A Theft at market Staff report Alcohol, cigarettes and about $800 cash were reportedly stolen from a Rancho Tehama market early Tuesday during a burglary, according to the Tehama County Sheriff's Department. Courtesy photo Long-time chamber supporter and active Corning community member Bud Gott, pictured here, left, will be honored posthumously with this years Christmas Tree Lane-themed Home- town Christmas. Gott passed away in June. Also pictured are Young Marines Executive Direc- tor Mike Kessler and Mary Hurton of the Tehama County Young Marines. By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Long-time chamber supporter and active member of the Corning community, the late Bud Gott will be hon- ored at Corning's 16th annual Hometown Christmas event scheduled for Saturday. The theme for the event is Christmas Tree Lane with posters, sponsor books and ads all bearing the words "Gott Trees?" in Gott's honor. "This year, we will honor E.L. 'Bud' Gott, who many in this community knew as Corning Union High School's principal and superintendent between 1961 and 1985," said Corning Chamber of Commerce man- ager Valanne Cardenas. "Mr. Gott died in June this year at the age of 88 and will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. He was truly an outstanding citizen of Corn- ing." After retiring, Gott remained active in the communi- ty and was a Rotarian for more than 58 years, achiev- ing a phenomenal perfect attendance, Cardenas said. Gott was awarded Senior of the Year in 2010, served on the Corning Chamber of Commerce board as a director and even served as interim manager at one point, Cardenas said. Wounded in the Battle of Iwo Jima, Gott served in Calif. prison docs get millions while not working LOS ANGELES (AP) — California prison doc- tors barred from treating patients because they were suspected of mal- practice received nearly $9 million in pay for doing no work or only menial chores like sorting the mail, state records show. At least 30 physicians and mental health profes- sionals collected an esti- mated $8.7 million since 2006 as they went through a lengthy appeals process to determine whether they should be fired or reinstat- ed, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday. The newspaper cited records from a court- ordered receiver now in charge of the state prison system. Doctors who were alleged by colleagues to have committed negli- gence or misconduct — in some cases involving patient deaths — received their full six-figure salaries, even though they were not allowed to treat prisoners. Some did menial work. ''Obviously the system is broken,'' said Dr. Radu Mischiu, a psychiatrist who allegedly failed to keep notes on patient interviews. ''You put peo- ple on the sidelines, but then you have to pay them millions. It's ridiculous.'' Mischiu, who currently is on disability leave with a bad back, has not treated an inmate since February 2006. At one point, he sorted inmate mail at Solano state prison in Vacaville while earning his full salary of $268,524 a year. He also reviewed See DOCS, page 5A 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Red Bluff Outdoor Power the US Marine Corps during World War II, receiving a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for extraordinary hero- ism. Christmas Tree Lane is a tradition that was started 41 years ago while Gott was chamber president. Trees are put up on city light poles along Solano Street and decorated, Cardenas said. Each year since its inception, Gott sponsored a Christmas tree and decorated it and his wife, Jan, made the perpetual trophy, which is topped with a painted ceramic tree. Centennial High School is stepping up to decorate a tree in honor of Gott this year, a tradition the chamber hopes to continue each year, Cardenas said. The winner of the Christmas tree decorating contest will be announced at the Annual Christmas Mixer Dec. 8 at PremierWest Bank on Solano Street. There will be a chance to participate in the Home- town Christmas Passport Program in which participants can win a gift basket if they receive a sticker from at least 30 of the 32 participating businesses. The drawing will be at the mixer "We have done the passport program for three years now," Cardenas said. "It is a way to get people to go See GOTT, page 5A Around 12:47 a.m. sheriff's deputies responded to a com- mercial alarm at Grewal's Market, 17585 Rancho Tehama Road, after being alerted by an alarm company. Deputies found one of the front glass doors had been smashed. During a walk-through with an employee, investi- gators discovered about $800 in cash and $800 in miscella- neous alcohol and cigarettes were missing. An exact loss will not be available until after the owner completes an inventory. The Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident and hopeful an arrest can be made. Anyone with information can call the office at 529-7900. Occupy Oakland protesters plan to retake plaza OAKLAND (AP) — The city of Oakland issued a per- mit Tuesday that allows Occupy Oakland members to erect a symbolic teepee on the plaza in front of City Hall, but told the demonstrators that they could not resurrect their encamp- ment. Police removed tents from the site on Oct. 25 and again on Nov. 14, and city officials have said they won't allow an encampment to go up again. Police say officers and private security will be on hand to make sure no tents, sleeping bags or camping equipment are set up at the site, but they will allow a seven-day vigil at Frank Ogawa Plaza. Though Occupy Oakland members had said they planned to retake the plaza, by Tuesday night things remained calm. Occupy Oakland said there would be structures in the plaza as part of the vigil, including a teepee that is intended to remind people of the previous encampments and free speech. ''Frank Ogawa Plaza is equivalent to the town squares of old,'' said Mayor Jean Quan. ''It is Oakland's center for expressing free speech and will continue to serve that role. I've been consistent in stating that those using the Plaza must abide by our ground rules, and the permit reinforces that.'' A city statement said the teepee could not be used as lodging. ''It will be unoccupied at all times. No one will live or sleep in it,'' it said. Cottonwood girls wins world dance meet By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Third time was the charm for Cottonwood resident Alyssa Spurgeon, who is now an Interna- tional Dance Organization (IDO) World Champion. The 13-year-old daughter of Ron and Cindee Spurgeon compet- ed Nov. 20-26 in Riesa, Germany, where she took first place in the Junior Division for solo females. Dancing to "Don't Tell Mama," choreographed by California Dance Company Studio Director Sonya Kennedy, Spur- geon danced her way to the top of the podium. "I'm so very proud of her," Cindee Spurgeon said. "I was crying (when she won). For me it was a culmination of years of watching her pursue this goal of hers. She's very determined, but in a good way. When she has a goal, she keeps at it until she attains it." Alyssa, who has been dancing since she was 3, has wanted to try compet- ing since she was 9 and at 10 had her first chance to compete at nationals for a spot on the United States Courtesy photo Alyssa Spurgeon, top center, stands on the podium after taking first place in Junior Division Solo Female at the International Dance Orga- nization World Show Dance Competition in Riesa, Germany during a four-day competition earlier this month. team. That time, Alyssa came in as a first alternate, but the next year at she com- peted in the children's division, coming in fifth, her mother said. Returning to a new division of 12- to 15-year- olds the following year she placed seventh before See DANCE, page 5A PHYSICIAN REFERRAL A FREE SERVICE PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE 1-800-990-9971 CHW North State Region