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Wednesday, November 30, 2011 – Daily News 5A DRIVER Continued from page 1A released on her own recognizance. Judge Todd Bottke ordered her to surrender her dri- ver's license and not drive under any circumstances, according to court records. East reportedly backed into a sign, swerved the bus nearly into a culvert and continued to swerve while stopping at locations to pick up students for school on Aug. 29. Students told investigators East nearly drove the bus off the shoulder of the road. She later drove the bus into a thick tree branch, which lodged itself into a mirror. East, who has been employed by the school district for about nine years, is on unpaid administrative leave. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8 a.m., Jan. 4 in Department 3. DOCS Continued from page 1A medical charts to make sure other doctors have made proper notes — something he himself allegedly had failed to do. Mischiu eventually was fired, but the State Person- nel Board, which reviews disciplinary cases involv- ing civil servants, ordered him rehired with back pay two years ago. Regarding his poor record-keeping, the board noted Mischiu's huge caseload. He and another psychiatrist had been responsible for up to 1,600 mentally ill inmates at times. Mischiu said prison officials still refused to allow him near patients. A federal court placed the state's prison health care system in receiver- ship in 2005 after ruling that it was so poor as to constitute cruel and unusual punishment. The receiver, J. Clark Kelso, oversees more than 7,000 doctors, nurses and other medical staff positions. The payment records provided to the Times were partial because of poor accounting and the figure could be higher, said Nancy Kincaid, spokeswoman for the prison health system, Cal- ifornia Correctional Health Care Services. Since the receivership went into effect, there has been ''dramatic change'' in the way physicians are hired and disciplined in the prison health system, Kincaid told The Associ- ated Press on Tuesday. Under the earlier system, ''they were hiring any physician,'' including spe- cialists who were not knowledgeable in general medicine, and ''that was leading to patient deaths and misdiagnoses,'' Kin- caid said. Now, requirements have been tightened, she said. In addition, Kincaid said that since 2009, a court-ordered, indepen- dent panel of physicians now reviews disciplinary cases involving patient care by physicians, includ- ing psychiatrists. The civil service board continues to review cases involving other health care staff. Currently, only one physician who is not allowed to attend to prison inmates is being paid, and that case does not involve any allegations involving patient care, Kincaid said. Civil service laws, however, continue to make the discipline process a slow one. ''It can take years for these cases to wind through'' the appeals system and until then, some must remain on the payroll, Kincaid said. When a physician's peers conclude that he or she cannot provide care, the receiver is ''obligated to take them out of patient service,'' she said. ''They've tried to fire a number of them, and it's extremely difficult to do.'' ——— Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com Volunteer firefighter faces trial on arson charges OROVILLE (AP) — A judge has ruled that a Butte County volunteer firefighter will stand trial on eight counts of arson in connection with 20 suspicious fires. The Chico Enterprise-Record reports that Butte County judge on Monday found that enough evidence ties Jairo Perkins-Grubbs to a number of fires sparked in July through October. Perkins-Grubbs is charged with two felony counts of arson of an inhabited structure and six misdemeanor counts of arson of a structure or forest. He could receive 47 years in prison if convicted. Cal Fire-Butte County Capt. Shannon Garrett says Perkins-Grubbs was the first to respond to an Aug. 4 fire at DeSabla Market, and on Sept. 20 at the Lovelock Inn. Among evidence against Perkins-Grubbs is surveil- lance video that placed his vehicle near the Lovelock Inn. CHP seeks driver in late night Corning hit-and-run The California Highway Patrol is looking for infor- mation on the driver of a hit and run incident at 11 p.m. Thursday on southbound Interstate 5, at the Corning Road On-ramp. Officers discovered a 1991 Nissan 240 SX with moderate damage on the on-ramp. The driver had lost control of the on-ramp, hit a guard rail causing 10 feet of damage, and left the vehicle behind. Anyone with information is asked to call 527-2034. —Staff report Feds release $21 million under Soboba water deal SAN JACINTO (AP) — The federal government has released $21 million to help resolve a decades-old water dispute with the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians that dried up the tribe's farm production and led some members to move away, officials said Tuesday. The funds are part of a 2008 agreement among the tribe, the federal government and local and regional water districts to ensure a secure water supply for the tribe and surrounding communities in the vast inland stretches some 80 miles southeast of Los Angeles, the Department of the Interior said. Have a news tip? Call 527-2151, Ext. 112 GOTT Continued from page 1A into businesses that they might never have been in." Several activities have been planned for Satur- day's Hometown Christ- mas. The day kicks off with a pancake breakfast 7-11 a.m. Saturday at the Corn- DANCE Continued from page 1A finally coming in first at the 2011 IDO World Show Dance Champi- onships competition. The competition had between 2,500 and 3,000 dancers from about 30-35 different countries, broken down by age group and category, Cindee said. "It's like the Olympics of dance," she said. While 48 registered, only 42 fin- ished in Alyssa's class. From there it was whittled down to 25, 12 and finally six for the finals, Cindee said. There are seven judges who have placards from a one to a six and the contestant who receives the majori- ty of ones wins. "We were hoping for all ones or something close to that," Cindee said. "I knew she was on the podium and I thought she had a solid second since she had a majority of ones and twos. Her team captain knew she ing Volunteer Fire Depart- ment, 814 Fifth St., fol- lowed by craft and food booths from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., up and down Solano. Booths also will be available at Corning Glass, 1111 Solano St., and the Veterans Memori- al Hall, 1620 Solano St. At 11 a.m., downtown activities start including children's games and prizes, inflatable jumping houses, petting zoo and stick horse rodeo, all of which are free. There will be pony rides and free car- riage rides noon to 4 p.m. An art exhibit will be set up in Bank of America 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Santa arrives at 1 p.m. on the fire truck and pic- tures with Santa by JVan Photography will be 1:30- 4 p.m. at 1120 Solano St. The day ends with a had won, but wanted to surprise us. She was very surprised." To qualify for the competition, Alyssa competed at the Headliners Dance Competition, which is sanc- tioned by IDO. There, the judges nominate routines they would like to see on the world stage. Alyssa competed for a spot on the American team in Atlantic City, N.J. in July, where people from all over the United States descend. Only three routines in each age divi- sion and category are chosen, Spur- geon said. "It was fabulous for me to watch her win," Cindee said. "I see her day in and day out working so hard in all kinds of technique classes. Basical- ly, it's like a part-time job for her." Usually, Alyssa practices 3:30-9 p.m. after school, but never less than four hours a day, including Satur- days, Cindee said. The eighth-grad- er at West Cottonwood School is also a 4.0 student. In addition to working on her routine for the IDO competition, Alyssa was working on new rou- tines for the upcoming season of Farmworkers win unfair labor practices settlement FRESNO (AP) — A central California almond and grape grower will pay nearly $1 million in a settlement with farmworkers for unfair labor practices. The settlement announced Tuesday requires H&R Gun- lund Ranches, Inc. of Caruthers, Calif. to pay $915,000 to 82 migratory farmworkers and their attorneys. The settlement is the result of a lawsuit filed in 2009 by California Rural Legal Assistance, which represents the workers. The lawsuit accused the grower of violating state and federal law, including failing to pay minimum wage and overtime, violations of state rest-and-meal requirements and not providing the necessary tools for pruning and tying grapevines. CRLA said the workers filed suit after they were fired for complaining that their per-piece rate pay had dropped dramatically. Some were being paid less than $3 per hour. UC board approves raises at disrupted meeting SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The University of Califor- nia board approved raises for several senior employees at a meeting that was disrupted by protesters angry about tuition hikes and executive pay. The compensation packages were approved by the UC Board of Regents Monday after the meeting was interrupt- ed by shouting Wall Street protesters seeking to hold their own ''people's regents meeting.'' Documents show that two vice chancellors got 9.9 per- cent raises, an interim dean received a 7.5 percent increase and the head attorneys of six UC campuses got raises rang- ing from 6.4 percent to 21.9 percent. UC officials say the raises are needed to bring their pay in line with market rates. The board voted Monday to ask for an 18 percent increase in state funding to hire instructors, expand enroll- ment and avoid raising tuition. Protesters sue UC Berkeley for police brutality BERKELEY (AP) — Two dozen protesters are suing the University of California, Berkeley for alleged police brutality during a crackdown on protesters who tried to set up an Occupy camp on campus. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in federal court by 24 students and community members who claim they were jabbed, clubbed and pulled by their hair by baton-wielding police on Nov. 9. Occupy protesters clashed with the officers when the demonstrators pitched tents next to Berkeley's Sproul Plaza. Widely circulated online videos of the confrontation led to community outrage, an apology from the chancellor and the launch of multiple investigations. Campus spokeswoman Janet Gilmore says school offi- cials had not seen the lawsuit Tuesday and could not com- ment on the specific allegations, but the university is com- mitted a thorough investigation of the incident. Report: Fundraisers take most charitable donations SACRAMENTO (AP) — Attorney General Kamala Harris wants Californians to give wisely this holiday season when making charitable contri- butions. Her office released its annual report on commer- REWARD $1000 Please call the Sheriff's Department: 530-529-7900 For information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons responsible for the home burglary at 21570 Oakwood Drive in Red Bluff on November 22, 2011. lighted parade, sponsored by Corning Rotary Club. The parade starts at 5:30 p.m. on Solano Street and had 25 entries as of Mon- day. For more information call 824-5550. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews. com. competition, which starts all over again in February, Cindee said. "She loves to dance and you can see it on stage," Cindee said. Alyssa joined the competition team at California Dance Company in Anderson when she was 6 and began traveling regionally, mostly in Sacramento and the Bay Area. "It's a small region and we do very well for a small town team competing in the city," Cindee said. Alyssa started out in gymnastics in a building that shared space with the California Dance Company. She and her mother would watch the dancers on their way to her gymnas- tics class and Cindee asked her daughter if she wanted to dance. "She started doing just dance at age five and hasn't stopped since," Cindee said. "She's very much an athlete. She's played Little League softball, league basketball and does cross country and track." ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com. STATE BRIEFING cial fundraisers Tuesday. It shows that fundraisers passed on less than half of the contributions they collect to their intended charities. Commercial fundraisers, who are hired by char- ities to raise money on their behalf, collected $363 million in 2010, down $28.6 million from 2009. On average, $161 million, or less than 45 percent, went to charities. The figures exclude thrift stores and vehicle donation programs, which are counted separately. PG&E seeks to raise cash to cover gas upgrades SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Pacific Gas & Elec- tric Corp. wants to raise as much as $400 million in cash to cover expenses in the wake of last year's deadly gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno. In a document filed Tuesday with the U.S. Secu- rities and Exchange Commission, the company tells investors it plans to sell shares to raise the extra money. The company had previously announced its utility arm needed the cash to spend on pipeline repairs and renovations, as well as cap- ital expenditures. California regulators ordered the upgrades in the wake of the Sept. 9 explosion in San Bruno that killed eight people, injured dozens and destroyed dozens of homes in the suburb overlooking San Francisco Bay. The National Transportation Safety Board found earlier this year that a litany of failures by the com- pany led to the explosion. THE PASSING PARADE Many folks have gone to their reward this past week, but I knew not a one of them, so will fall back on my father's column of 1958 "The Southern Pacific Company is removing its waiting room* because there are no customers to wait there anymore. This marks the end of what was, at one time, a way of life. In the early twentieth century, at least six passenger trains stopped each day at Red Bluff. And an average of 50 to 100 people daily got off or on these trains. Salesmen traveled from town to town by train, and as roads in northern California being what they were, nearly all people traveled short or long distances by the train. Excursion trains were run from Red Bluff to Tehama, Willows, Redding and Chico, mostly to attend ball games. In 1916 the railroad moved its yards from Red Bluff to Gerber, not because of what you may have heard…that the Women's Club and business men of the town ran them out, but because the freight trains were growing longer, and with six street crossings in town, most of the trainmen's time was spent in cutting the trains between crossings. The yards should have been moved to Rawson or the present location of the Diamond-Gardner Corporation. But a Mr. Sheridan, who was the head of the Sacramento Division of the railroad, was a friend of Mr. Gerber, the Sacramento banker. Mr. Gerber gave Southern Pacific 100 acres in order to develop a large city at Gerber. This, however, did not work out, but the railroad was moved anyhow and Red Bluff lost a big payroll. In addition to the passenger trains, three local trains brought in freight every day. You can hardly imagine now that until about 1925, nearly 100% of all building material, groceries and every item used came into town via Southern Pacific. The large freight depot was piled high daily with all the necessities of a community. Tom Downey was the man I remember as being in charge of freight, which was driven about town by horse drawn drays by a Mr. Bailey and Al Prewser. They were followed later by Floyd Hull, Milton Hull's father. He used a truck and drove it until he was elected Sheriff and then sold it to Ben Osborn who ran it for many years. The freight business has not declined so much as the passenger business, but it is nothing like it used to be. Charles Tolley worked for years and remembers when the engines had diamond stacks and burned wood necessitating a large wood yard in Red Bluff. These engines were followed by coal burner with their yards and now diesel engines ...and probably in a few years, atomic fission." *Whereas we haven't seen father's prediction come true regarding atomic energy to move trains, he might have surmised that the old train depot would be replaced with a firm such as our present day Bob's Tire Shop. Robert Minch 1929- The Passing Parade is brought to you by by Minch Property Management, 760 Main Street specializing in commercial leasing and sales. 530 527 5514