Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/49185
FRIDAY DECEMBER 2, 2011 Breaking news at: Crooning For Christmas Select TV www.redbluffdailynews.com See Inside RED BLUFF County Battle SPORTS 1B Weather forecast 10A Sunny 66/39 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 Christmas tradition Occupy Chico State planned to stay overnight MediaNews Group CHICO — A crowd with Occupy Chico State gathered in front of Kendall Hall Thursday after- noon, and decided to stay on campus overnight. As of Thursday afternoon, the group was dis- cussing whether to stay in front of Kendall Hall, or another area on campus. Originally, a rally was planned at 3:30 p.m. on the Kendall lawn, after which protesters were plan- ning to occupy the building at least until a "general assembly" at 6 p.m. to decide what to do after that time. But the building was locked by the university this morning. Many members of the Chico State University staff who work in Kendall Hall said they were nervous about the event, especially after a bomb threat Wednesday at another building on cam- pus, according to university spokesman Joe Wills. University President Paul Zingg decided to only allow employees into the administration building Thursday, and employees were told they could leave at 3 p.m., and most did, Wills said. See CHICO, page 9A Firefighters spread Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb JoAnn Kremer and Nelva Lea Denbo of Red Bluff ready Kremer's house for the 36th annual Christmas at the Old Mansion. By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer For those who enjoy old houses and local crafts the 36th annual Christmas at the Old Mansion, 25076 Sycamore St. in Los Molinos, is today and Saturday, Dec. 3. "We're looking forward to another great year," said JoAnn Kremer. "It's just a family event and it's a neat way to start the Christmas season." JoAnn and her husband Darwin own the historic Craftsman style house with an Inglenook fireplace built in 1906. It was first owned by Mary Cone Runyan Wheeler. Wheeler, who was living in San Francisco at the time of the great earthquake, built the foundation with 11-inch-thick concrete walls that house an old railroad tanker used as a 500-gallon water tank. It was attached to the fire hose, which hangs today on the second floor. It also houses four fire mains in different corners of the house to make it as fireproof as possible, Kremer said. Originally called "The Sycamores" for the trees around it, the house later became known as "The Man- sion" by locals, she said. For Kremer's children, now grown, the boutique is Brown to submit tax-hike initiative SACRAMENTO (AP) — Facing another budget deficit and the prospect of deep cuts to education, Gov. Jerry Brown plans to file a ballot initiative as early as Friday that asks voters to increase taxes on the wealthy and raise the sales tax by half a cent. The initiative would be intended for the Novem- ber ballot and would maintain a pledge Brown made during his 2010 gubernatorial race not to raise taxes without a vote of people. A legislative source who had been briefed on the proposal but was not authorized to speak pub- licly told The Associated Press on Thursday the ini- tiative would call for adding an extra 1 percent tax on individuals earning more than $250,000 a year. Individuals making between $300,000 and $500,000 would be taxed an additional 1.5 percent, while those making more than $500,000 would be taxed another 2 percent. Joint filers who earn more than $500,000 would face an extra 1 per- cent, those making $600,000 to $1 million would face an extra 1.5 percent, and those making more than $1 million would be taxed an addi- tional 2 percent. The combination of income and sales tax hikes would raise about $7 billion and expire in 2016. The governor declined comment on his tax plan Thursday. He did make a rare appearance before a joint legislative committee to press lawmakers for pub- lic employee pension reform, which he says is needed first in order to win public support for taxes. He wants to increase the retirement age, get local and state government workers to pay more toward their pensions and retiree 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 See BROWN, page 9A Christmas and several members of her family have driven up for the week to help her with the event along with long-time friends who have become like family. "Shirley Holmes started out as a customer coming from Orland in the 1970s and now she comes to help me get ready," Kremer said. "My friend Nelva Lea Denbo keeps me painting by helping me by painting the prepwood for my decorative pieces." One of Kremer's nieces is coming from Alaska to help with the boutique and another niece from Rancho Murietta is adding a new item to the boutique with fleece hats for babies. "We also have a new jewelry person from Redding and Cleo Muir is selling recycled scarves," Kremer said. Muir, a Red Bluff resident, buys old cashmere sweaters and uses them to make silk-lined scarves, she said. Marti Alberico, a children's author from Orland with two books out, will be available to sign books. Hours for the craft fair are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com. cheer for holidays By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer CORNING — The Corning Volunteer Fire Department is taking names for its annual holi- day food basket giveaway. "We're taking names for the baskets from Dec. 1 through Dec. 10," said Fire Chief Martin Span- naus. "The baskets are a tradition for the Corning Volunteer Fire Depart- ment that the guys just wouldn't live without." The department has collected food and toys to be given to families in the community for more than 30 years, Spannaus said. Those interested in receiving a basket can stop by the department, 814 Fifth St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those signing up should bring proof of res- idence and a photo ID, as only residents of Corning are eligible, he said. The department is in need of donations from the community to be used for the baskets. "We welcome dona- tions of money, canned goods or unwrapped pre- sents," Spannaus said. "They can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday as well." Each family carefully selected from the appli- cants will receive a pre- sent, which is typically wrapped at a community wrapping party hosted by the fire department. For more information on the food baskets, call the department at 824- 7044. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews .com. Winds down trees and power lines in West PASADENA (AP) — The most powerful winds to tear across California in years kept 9-year-old Dalen Guyton up late into the night. Then, around midnight, came the boom. The great yawning tree that stood next to his grandmother's house, the one with the rope swing he and his sisters played on, had toppled, coming within inches of their one- story home. On Thursday, the sib- lings stood out front sur- veying the damage, like thousands across the West where high winds toppled countless trees, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands and brought gusts of 123 mph. ''If she pays someone to clean it up, it's not going to be a good Christ- mas,'' said the boy, who was wearing a Santa hat. ''She's not going to be able to get any presents.'' The National Weather Service called Southern California's winds Wednesday night a once- in-a-decade event and it's not over. Winds were expected to pick up again Thursday night though they won't be as fierce. In the mountains, winds were expected to 'It was like being in a hur- ricane. I thought I was going to blow away' — Bob Spencer, LA County Public Works gust up to 65 mph into Friday morning and 50 mph in the valleys. High wind warnings and advisories were also issued for Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico. The blus- tery weather is expected to eventually hit Okla- homa, Missouri and Indi- ana. The storms were the result of a dramatic differ- ence in pressure between a strong, high-pressure system and a cold, low- pressure system, meteo- rologists said. This fun- nels strong winds down mountain canyons and slopes. The winds reached 123 mph at a ski resort north- west of Denver and topped 102 mph in Utah. California, however, was the hardest hit, with more than 345,000 utility customers without power. The gusts were blamed for toppling semitrailers and causing trees to fall on homes, apartment complexes and cars. A state of emergency was declared in Los Angeles County, where schools in a dozen com- munities were closed. In some neighbor- hoods, concrete light poles cracked in half. Darkened traffic signals and fallen palm tree fronds and branches snarled traffic. At a Shell station, the roof collapsed into a heap of twisted metal. ''It was a terrifying ride for me, coming here in pitch dark ... and watching motorists take no notice of lights being out,'' said Bob Spencer, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Depart- ment of Public Works. The last time that Southern California was battered by such intense winds was in January 2007 when similarly high gusts toppled trees and made a mess. Bill Patzert, a climate expert with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, lives in Sierra Madre and like hundreds of thou- sands of people across the region, lost power at his home. A heavy tree limb blocked his driveway. He estimated winds peaked between 80 to 90 mph in his neighborhood overnight. ''It was like being in a hurricane. I thought I was going to blow away,'' he said. In heavily damaged Pasadena, schools and libraries closed and a local emergency, the first since 2004, was declared. Officials said 40 people were evacuated from an apartment building after a tree smashing part of the roof. Pasadena is known for its historic homes and wide oak-lined streets that are frequently depicted in films. Many residents on See WINDS, page 9A