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WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2012 Breaking news at: World-Class Brownies American Profile www.redbluffdailynews.com See Inside RED BLUFF Athletes of the Week SPORTS 1B Mostly sunny 59/34 Weather forecast 8B By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer If there is one way City Man- ager Martin Nichols wants to be remembered by Red Bluff it's that he was someone who cared a great deal about the city and gave the city his best effort, he said. Nichols, whose last day will be Friday, is satisfied that he is leaving the city better than he found it. Helping the city through the 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 City manager accomplished much, but leaves long list recession is his biggest accom- plishment, he said. "It's an accomplishment but in a negative sense," Nichols said. "It's hard to be proud of laying off people and reducing services." Mayor Forrest Flynn said he has worked with every city man- ager since the early '80s, but "none of them surpass Marty Nichols." "I can't say enough about what he's done for the city," Flynn said. Nichols said though he has done plenty it never feels quite done. He's leaving behind a long list of projects for incoming City Manager Richard Crabtree. The list already contains more than 40 items, but on the top of the list is the acquisition of the Red Bluff Recreation Area for an off-highway vehicle park. Timing on that project is crit- ical because it needs to be done before Rep. Wally Herger retires Going mobile at the end of the year. "We have a com- mitment from him to do this," Nichols said. "We don't know if the next per- son will feel the same." Continuing to develop a relation- ship with the Red Bluff-Tehama Coun- ty Chamber of Com- merce is a priority. Nichols The city and chamber need to really define the x, y, and z that the cham- ber is doing for the city when the city gives the chamber money, he said. The community has not always seen Nichols as the best leader, but those working closest to him say otherwise. Mayor Pro Tem See LIST, page 7A By ANDREA WAGNER Branding project nears next step DN Staff Writer A new brand and logo for Tehama County, Red Bluff and Manton could be put to use as soon as next week. After several months of barely a whisper about the Tehama County Branding efforts, committee members met Friday morning and new developments were revealed. Roger Brooks, of Destination Development Interna- tional, who the Destination Tehama group raised money to hire to put together a brand concept for the See NEXT, page 7A Squirrels threaten to flood Gerber By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The Gerber-Las Flores Community Service Dis- trict is working to ensure ground squirrels don't cause residents to have to get flood insurance. The levee in Gerber Photo courtesy of Rod Daugherty By ANDREA WAGNER DN Staff Writer Preparing for worst case scenarios, such as flood, earthquake or severe traffic accidents, Tehama County Sheriff's emergency response officers tested the depart- ment's mobile command unit Feb. 9. Dispatcher Wilma Gillett and Joe Hickerson of the amateur radio operators emergency services organiza- tion made test calls using the mobile command center. The Mobile Command Post, a 35-foot bus purchased in 2005, is fully equipped with communications sta- S&P improves California bond outlook to positive SACRAMENTO (AP) — Standard & Poor's on Tuesday improved Cali- fornia's bond outlook from stable to positive, a sign the state might be poised for a credit-rating upgrade if the Legislature continues to make spend- ing cuts and tax revenue meets projections. Although California still faces a $9.2 billion deficit, the credit rating agency said the state has corrected a significant portion of its budget imbalance. ''We are revising the outlook because, barring any other credit deteriora- tion, (we) think the state is poised for credit improve- ment — and potentially a higher rating — pending its ability to better align its cash performance and budget assumptions,'' S&P analyst Gabriel Petek said in a statement. The agency's report says a higher rating is contingent on sufficiently credible solutions to the state's $9.2 billion deficit. That would include auto- matic spending cuts that are not subject to changes after the November elec- tion, if voters reject Gov. Jerry Brown's tax hikes. Brown has proposed a mix of cuts and temporary tax hikes but Democrats who control the Legisla- ture are opposed to more cuts. If the state can reach a balanced budget by the summer, California's low credit rating might be turning a corner. The last time the rating agency gave California a See BOND, page 7A 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Red Bluff Outdoor Power tions and space for an emergency response team. Gillett, who is a full-time dispatcher for the sheriff's department, was tasked with testing the dispatching sta- tion, placing calls to every hospital, law enforcement agency and fire station in the region. Calls also went out to poison control centers, the road departments, animal shelters and anywhere else that deputies might need to call out to in an emergency, said Sgt. Rod Daugherty, who was in charge of the training. See MOBILE, page 7A was redlined as unaccept- able by the Army Corps of Engineers during its inspection report, which the district received Jan. 13, said District Manager Mike Murphy. "It took over a year to receive the inspection report from the Army Corps of Engineers in Sacramento and now they want visible proof that our rodent control program is underway within 30-40 days to remain eligible for federal funds under the PL 84-99 Program," Mur- phy said. PL 84-99 is a federal assistance program in case of a levee break and flood, Murphy said. "It's difficult to keep squirrels away when there's walnut orchards growing on both sides," Murphy said. "If we get kicked out of the program, Gerber residents with mortgages would most likely be required to carry flood insurance. We are coordinating our efforts for rodent control with the Tehama County Public Works." One method of rodent control discussed at a Jan. 19 meeting was poison- ing, but that was deemed unacceptable by the Army Corps of Engineers, Mur- phy said. See GERBER, page 7A LM Chamber swears in new leadership By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Several members of the community were honored at Monday's Los Molinos Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner held at the Veterans Memorial Hall. For the first time in a while the chamber presi- dent had a different face, as Donna Wallan was sworn in to replace Betty Morales, who held the record of five terms, serv- ing as president since 2007. "I am honored to stand before you tonight and to accept the presidency of the Los Molinos Chamber of Commerce for the year 2012," Wallan said. "My vision for the Los Moli- nos Chamber is to contin- ue to provide our commu- nity with the support it deserves. To continue in the long standing tradition of ensuring that the Fourth of July Parade and Playday in the Park sur- vive." That vision includes providing an ear and a voice for the community as it grows and changes, Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Outgoing Los Molinos Chamber of Commerce President Betty Morales accepts a certificate of recognition and a hug from Sen. Doug LaMalfa Monday at the annual Installation Dinner. to partner with other groups and organizations in the community and to keep Los Molinos and the surrounding areas safe, sound and an awesome place to live and work, Wallan said. The job does not come without perks, which Thursday included honor- ing several people. See CHAMBER, page 7A PHYSICIAN REFERRAL A FREE SERVICE PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE 1-800-990-9971