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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2011 Breaking news at: Business of the Month Commerce www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 4A RED BLUFF Athletes of the Week SPORTS 1B Sunny 62/36 Weather forecast 8B 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 Stand off Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Officers hold their position outside 1054 Walnut St. about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday during the beginning of a six-hour stand off involving a Redding Police homicide suspect. By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer An emotional plea from a teenage girl of "I love you, daddy" was heard shortly after a man was seen being escorted to a waiting gurney just after 7 p.m. Tuesday, ending a six-hour stand off involving a Redding Police homicide suspect at 1054 Walnut St. at Franklin Street in Red Bluff. "We have been investigating a homicide that took place Dec. 14 at the Hilltop Lodge," said Redding Police Lt. Koby Hes- ton. "We have been searching for one of the suspects, Kevin Lemmon, 39 and received information that he was at this address." Lemmon was one of three people con- nected with the fatal stabbing of Steven Johnny John- son, 54, of Redding that took place at the Hilltop Lodge, Heston said. Two others, William Lee Freed, 30, and Kenneth Eugene Matthews, 42, both of Red- ding had already been arrested. Lemmon, who was found in the first level of the house, where more than a dozen rounds of tear gas were shot, was taken to a local hospital to be treated for a bite wound, Heston said. Marijuana backers ready ballot measure SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Medical marijuana advocates want to create a statewide system for licens- ing, regulating and taxing the industry as a way of per- suading federal officials to ease up on their crackdown of California's pot clubs and growers. After months of study, a coalition of medical mari- juana activists led by Amer- icans for Safe Access and a labor union that represents dispensary workers in Northern California, have proposed a 2012 ballot ini- tiative that would create an appointed Board of Medical Marijuana Enforcement charged with overseeing businesses and nonprofits that grow, distribute, sell and test pot both in its raw state and in finished prod- ucts like food items. The measure was sub- mitted to the Secretary of State on Thursday and still must be cleared by the attor- ney general before its sup- porters can begin gathering signatures. Backers hope that empowering a state body to monitor the indus- try would show the federal government that California is serious about keeping marijuana in the hands of residents who are autho- rized to use it. In October, the four U.S. attorneys based in the state announced a coordinated action to shutter pot clubs and growers they accused of acting as a front for drug dealers. ''We think that this initia- tive will create a level play- ing ground that law enforce- ment will embrace because it creates a sensible process,'' Dan Rush, nation- al director of the United Food and Commercial Workers' medical cannabis division. ''The U.S. attor- neys became hostile to med- ical marijuana in California and what we are doing is offering a responsible, digni- fied and sincere approach to the citizens of California.'' The proposed initiative also would target local gov- ernments that have banned marijuana businesses out- right by requiring counties and cities to authorize at least one dispensary for every 50,000 residents. Local governments would be allowed to enact ban dis- pensaries would have to get approval from voters. At the state level, the 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 See BALLOT, page 7A "There was at least one bite from a K-9 and he may have experienced some of the gas effects," Heston said. "We placed tear gas in all the locations, bottom and top, to try and force him out. He was located in the first level of the house by the K-9." The Redding Police Department received unconfirmed information that Lemmon may have had possession of and used a gas mask, he said. Heston said there had been one gun shot that had to do with a pet, but declined to comment further pending the homeowner's notification. It is unknown what Lemmon's associa- Lemmon tion was with the owner or residents of the home, Heston said. Hostage negotiators tried unsuccessfully, at times communicating loudly enough to be heard about a block away, for several hours to get Lemmon to surrender before the tear gas was fired into the house. At least 13 bangs, described by Red Bluff Police Sgt. Josiah Ferrin as flash bangs used as a diversionary tactic, were heard shortly after the SWAT team began moving toward the residence. At least two other times between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., See STAND, page 7A By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer College students com- ing home for the holiday enjoyed a reception Tues- day where they shared their experience and talked about how to get other students to attend college. Even though Tehama County has a traditionally low rate of students going to college there are sever- al students who are attending college and are having remarkable experi- ences, said event organiz- er Melissa Mendonca. Mendonca, coordinator of the county's Mentoring Program, has been work- ing closely with Expect More Tehama, whose goal is to get more local students to go on to high- er education. "The greatest myth about college is that it's only for certain people," she said. Trace Camacho, a 2003 Red Bluff Union High School alumnus, who attended Michigan State University and now works as a student life director overseeing the college's Greek system, said many students might be deterred from going to college because they are overwhelmed by the cost, but there are ways to get around it. With scholar- ships and financial aid most students end up not having to pay the full price. "Don't confuse the sticker price with the actual cost," he said. The idea for the recep- tion started when Red Bluff High alumna Jessica Rabalais, now a sopho- more at Chapman Univer- See COLLEGE, page 7A Christmas season shines brightly Inmate escapes from Ishi Camp By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Authorities are still searching the Paynes Creek area for a min- imum security Ishi Conservation Camp inmate who escaped about 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. The escapee is Arthur Turner, 31, who was committed to Cali- fornia Department of Correc- tions and Rehabilitation (CDCR) on Feb. 28, 2003, said CDCR Public Information Officer Mar- garet Pieper. He was committed to CDCR from Stanislaus County for second degree robbery and was scheduled to be paroled in April 2014, she said. Turner See ISHI, page 7A College party aims to encourage higher education Daily News photo by Chip Thompson This house, at 339 Michael Drive in Red Bluff, is one of many elaborately decorated for the Christmas season. The following address- es have been provided for those wishing to view Christmas decorations during the holiday season: Red Bluff 12121 Craig Ave. 339 Michael Drive 14790 Hilltop Drive, off McCoy Road 620 Paynes Creek Road To submit your address to this list, send an e-mail to clerk@redbluffdai- lynews.com or leave a message at 527-2151, Ext. 112. 14562 Carriage Lane 1800 Aloha St. Cabernet Court Tehama 360 Second St. PHYSICIAN REFERRAL A FREE SERVICE PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE 1-800-990-9971 CHW North State Region