Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/537171
ByGillianFlaccus TheAssociatedPress RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA Bill- boards and TV commercials, liv- ing room visits, guess-your-wa- ter-use booths, and awards for water stinginess — a wealthy swath of Orange County that once had one of the worst re- cords for water conservation in drought-stricken California is turning things around, prov- ing it's possible to get people to change their ways. The 154,000-customer Santa Margarita Water District cut its water use 18 percent in May, compared with a pitiful 3 per- cent in the previous 11 months, state officials announced this week. The agency achieved it by, among other things, hold- ing small meetings in peo- ple's homes, knocking on 2,000 doors, plastering the city with save-water billboards, conspic- uously honoring its most frugal citizens, and rushing to get an innovative runoff recycling sys- tem up and running earlier than planned. The agency also offers re- bates for ripping up grass and installing low-flow toilets, more efficient washing machines and drip irrigation systems, and it has put aside $30 million for capital improvements with the goal of increasing the use of re- cycled water to 30 percent from 17 percent. The savings prove that Califor- nians can conserve water when pressed and when they under- stand what is at stake, said Jona- than Volzke, district spokesman. That message is even stronger in Santa Margarita, where the district did not use any rate in- creases, fines or penalties against water wasters, he said. "Face-to-face is the most ef- fective," he said. "We're try- ing everything we can to keep this issue in front of customers, and we think they're respond- ing well." With California gripped by one of the most punishing droughts on record — a dry spell going on four years — state officials have ordered a 25 percent overall cut in urban consumption of drink- able water and have set different targets for cities and water agen- cies. The target for Santa Mar- garita is 24 percent. DROUGHT State learns to save water using tech Staff report RED BLUFF The Mendocino and Klamath national forests en- tered into fire restrictions Thurs- day due to dry conditions and in- creased risk of wildfires, meaning all fires are prohibited on forest lands except in designated areas, including the Lake Red Bluff Rec- reation Area. Lassen National Forest entered fire restrictions Wednesday. The Shasta-Trinity National Forest was scheduled to tentatively en- ter fire restrictions at midnight Thursday. The fire restrictions at all three forests will continue through the end of fire season. Under the restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal fires and stoves are prohibited on the na- tional forests unless in designated recreation sites "With extreme drought con- ditions across the state, any fire start has the potential to grow rapidly," said Lassen National For- est Supervisor Dave Hays. "These restrictions will help us manage this risk." California Campfire Permits are not needed in designated rec- reation sites. In all other areas of the forests, lanterns or portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel will be allows as long as the person has a current California Campfire Per- mit with them. California Campfire Permits may be obtained at any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Manage- ment or Cal Fire office in Califor- nia, as well as from most Forest Service field employees. The may also be obtained online at www. preventwildfireca.org. The following activities are prohibited as part of the fire re- strictions: Smoking except within an en- closed vehicle or in a designated recreation site; welding or oper- ating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame; using explo- sives; possessing, discharging or using any kind of fireworks. Forest visitors will be able to continue riding Off-Highway Ve- hicles on designated roads and trails, provided that the vehicles are equipped with the required spark arresters. DROUGHT Campfires prohibited on national forests Threeforestsenterfire restrictions Thursday due to dry conditions Staff report COTTONWOOD A man and a woman are dead and another man was injured in a shooting that was reported around 4:15 p.m. Thurs- day at Lake California. Tehama County Sheriff Dave Hencrattsaidamalesuspectwasin custody after he was subdued and detained by residents until depu- ties arrived. Scanner reports said residents held the man at the intersection of Chimney Rock and Lake California Drive. The suspect was taken into custody around 4:25 p.m., accord- ing to scanner reports. The victims and the suspect knew each other, Hencratt said. One of the victims was found outside the building and the other in the doorway, Hencratt said. The injured party, a man, was transported by ground ambulance to an area hospital with a gunshot to the shoulder, Hencratt said. The gunman used a rifle, but Hencratt said he didn't know what kind or caliber. Initial scanner reports were that seven or eight shots were fired. Hencratt said a motive had not been determined and, beyond saying all involved were adults, didn't have specific information about their ages. Dispatchers said people had bar- ricaded themselves inside a real es- tate office nearby and needed to be told the scene was secure. No names or further details were released Thursday. LAKE CALIFORNIA Twodead,onehurtinshooting Seven or eight shots fired according to original scanner report Community.....A4 Lifestyles........A5 Opinion............A8 Weather........A10 Sports..............B1 Autos..............B6 INDEX The CHP will be out in full force over the weekend to reduce roadway deaths and prevent injuries. PAGEA5 LIFESTYLES Extrapatrolsontapfor holiday weekend A group from a California Baptist University in Riverside is set to perform tonight at Berrendos School. PAGE A4 COMMUNITY Group from baptist university to perform Senate leader rebuffs Obama administration's efforts to normalize diplomatic and trade relations with Cuba. PAGE B5 US-CUBA McConnell: Ambassador unlikely to be confirmed Solid hiring in June, but some bleak news as many stopped looking for work and pay- checks didn't budge. PAGE B5 ECONOMY Unemployment falls to 7-year low; wages flat PHOTOS BY JULIE ZEEB - DAILY NEWS Ray and Annie Bianchi serve as Grand Marshals of the 20144th of July Parade in Los Molinos along with their grandchildren. By Julie Zeeb jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com @DN_Zeeb on Twitter LOS MOLINOS The town of Los Molinos is getting ready to celebrate the Fourth of July with a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday starting at the Los Molinos Veterans Memorial Hall, 7980 Sher- wood Blvd., and the com- munity is invited to attend and join in. The parade will run from the veterans hall up to Rose Street, over to State Route 99E and back down Tehama Vina Road to the veterans hall. "They're welcome to join in the parade Satur- day and don't have to pre- apply unless they want to be judged," said Los Moli- nos Chamber of Commerce President Tom Jones. The event is co-spon- sored by the Los Molinos Chamber of Commerce and the Los Molinos VFW Post 3909 and funded through the chamber's fireworks booth, which also pays for the Play Day in Mill Creek Park, said Chamber Trea- surer Shelly Patchen. The fireworks booth, which will be open through Sat- urday across from the Nu- Way Market shopping cen- ter, also raises funds for other community events such as local scholarships, the Easter egg hunt and other chamber activities. The title of Honorary Mayor, based on fundrais- ing efforts during the May- or's race, was given to Re- bekah Coon, who will pre- side over the parade while Shawna Chrasta is the Vice Mayor. Bruce "Dok" Baker, a re- tired Los Molinos veterinar- ian who was chosen for be- ing a long-time, behind the scenes person in the com- munity, will serve as the pa- rade Grand Marshal. Hardeep Singh, a local business owner, was cho- sen as the parade's VIP for his support of the town and his efforts to clean-up his business and making it look very presentable. Following the parade, the celebration will move to Mill Creek Park, 24670 Tehama Vina Road, start- ing at 1 p.m. where chil- dren's games will be held at no cost to attendees. Free popsicles will be handed out as long as they last. An awards ceremony will tentatively be held at 2 p.m. Fourth of July parade scheduled for Saturday PARADE FIRES PAGE 9 TECH PAGE 9 Dispatchers said people had barricaded themselves inside a real estate office nearby and needed to be told the scene was secure. Parade goers wave flags as the Tehama County Young Marines lead the 20144th of July parade in Los Molinos. » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, July 3, 2015 50CENTS AN EDITION OF THE CHICO ENTERPRISE-RECORD 7 58551 69001 9 Volume130,issue161 Good morning, thanks for subscribing Tony Vallier SOFTBALL Stower earns Coach of the Year honors Sports B1 CLOSURE Portion of refuge closed for upgrades Lifestyles A5 FORECAST High: 99 Low: 74 A10 LiketheDailyNews on Facebook and stay in the loop on local news, sports and more. VISITFACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS LIKEUSON FACEBOOK