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FRIDAY DECEMBER 23, 2011 Breaking news at: Channeling Christmas Select TV www.redbluffdailynews.com See Inside RED BLUFF Gio Gone SPORTS 1B Weather forecast 10A Mostly sunny 61/33 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 Dumping case Sniffing danger ends with settlement By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer A Tehama County trucking company owner's failure to clean up has resulted in the county cleaning him out $50,000 after a drawn out court battle. Bert Endicott of Endicott Trucking, in Corning, has agreed to pay the fine and publicly apologize for hav- ing violated state waste disposal and air pollution law by unlawfully disposing of demolition debris on his property, officials from the county Air Pollution Con- trol District and Environmental Health said. The settlement ends a civil suit filed by the county that has been ongoing since 2009, when officials from See CASE, page 9A Dems fiddled with redistricting By LISA VORDER- BRUEGGEN MediaNews Group California's congres- sional Democrats ran a secret effort earlier this year to manipulate the work of the independent citizen's panel that drew the state's new political districts, foiling the intent of reformers who sought to remove the redistricting process from the control of party bosses. Democrats met behind closed doors at the party's Washington, D.C. head- quarters, hired consul- tants, drew their ideal dis- tricts and presented maps to the panel through prox- ies who never disclosed their party ties or "public interest" groups created specifically for the pur- pose. In many cases, the panel responded by doing just what the Democrats wanted. The New York-based nonprofit investigative foundation ProPublica released findings Wednes- day from a months-long reconstruction of the Democrats' stealth redis- tricting strategy, relying on internal memos, emails, interviews and map analysis. strategy has Democrats projecting they may pick up as many as seven con- gressional seats in 2012 under new district bound- aries adopted last sum- mer, far more than had been expected originally. "Every member of the Northern California Democratic Caucus has a See DEMS, page 9A Courtesy photo A group of canines and their handlers were used in a bomb detection training inside the Tehama County courthouse Monday. The success of the By ANDREA WAGNER DN Staff Writer The Tehama County Courthouse was filled with furry hunters Monday as guest law enforcement K9s and their handlers went through a bomb detection train- ing. The explosives detection training was headed by Vigilant Canine Services International, a private, local company that contracts with military and law enforcement around the world to supply trained K9 dogs. In the future, the handlers and K9s will be visiting other county buildings to expose the dogs to a variety Employee of the year By ANDREA WAGNER DN Staff Writer A sheep rancher, for- mer butcher and all around hard-working guy, Jerry Meeder, 71, was chosen as the employee of the year earlier this month for the Tehama County Public Works Department. Meeder was honored with a plaque certificate during the department's annual Christmas party Dec. 8. Laurie Meeder, his wife of 40 years, could- n't be more proud of her husband, she said. Already honored as the 2005 California Worker of the Year pre- sented by Dickies cloth- ing company at age 65, Meeder's hard work hasn't gone unnoticed. Born and raised in Red Bluff, Meeder has raised three children and a step-daughter with his wife Laurie, and spent the last 17 years as a road maintenance work- er with Tehama County. Out fixing roads 90 percent of the time he is at work, Meeder seems to keep busy, said Public Works Director Gary Antone. "I have appreciated the work I've seen from Chestnut Avenue The following addresses have been provided for those wishing to view Christmas decorations during the holi- day season: Courtesy photo Jerry Meeder, 71, was honored as the Tehama County Public Works employee of the year. Meeder will retire Jan. 4 after 17 years working with the county in the roads department. him and what he's pre- sented," Antone said. For the department employee of the year Meeder was nominated and selected by a vote of his peers, Antone said. "(Meeder) was the 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 overwhelming choice this year," he said. Although manage- ment doesn't vote in the employee of the year competition, Antone was "gratified" to see Meeder selected for recognition, he said. Meeder will be retir- ing from the county Jan. 4, after spending the holidays with his fami- ly. ——— Andrea Wagner can be reached at 527- 2153, extension 114 or awagner@redbluffdaily news.com. Red Bluff 12121 Craig Ave. 339 Michael Drive 14790 Hilltop Drive, off McCoy Road 620 Paynes Creek Road 14562 Carriage Lane 1800 Aloha St. Cabernet Court TEHAMA COUNTY GLASS MOULE'S Sat., Dec 24th We will be closed on Mon. Dec. 26th Merry Christmas! 515 Sycamore St. 529-0260 & 20776 Highland Court 216 Treasure Drive 106 Chestnut Ave. Los Molinos 8470 Sherwood Blvd. Tehama 360 Second St. 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. Christmas Holiday, Monday, Dec. 26 New Years Holiday, Monday, Jan. 2 Advertising deadline for these editions & the Tuesdays following is 10am the previous Thursday. D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY 527-2151 • FAX 527-3719 545 DIAMOND AVE., RED BLUFF The Daily News office will close at noon Friday, Dec. 23 & closed of locations, said a sheriff's press release. Although none of the dogs Monday was from the Tehama County Sheriff's Department, VCSI provides dogs and training services to the department. Deputy Greg Thompson and his K9 partner "Book- er" were certified recently in both the basic handler course and in narcotics detection. Booker is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, a breed commonly used by law enforcement, the release said. VCSI will be supplying a dog and training for the Red Bluff Police Department as well. ——— Andrea Wagner can be reached at 527-2153, extension 114 or awagner@redbluffdailynews.com. Lighting up the holiday season