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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2012 Breaking news at: Gatlin Brothers to play Redding Pastimes www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 4A RED BLUFF Masters Preview SPORTS 1B Sunny 70/40 Weather forecast 8B By ANDREA WAGNER DN Staff Writer Now that Red Bluff Police Chief Paul Nanfito has been officially appointed as chief, he asked the City Council to let him officially fill his captain and lieutenant positions as well. 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 RBPD gets OK for promotions, new equipment When Nanfito began as act- ing chief in 2009, an acting cap- tain and lieutenant were appointed on an interim basis. The council approved Nanfi- to's request to begin the promo- tion process. Police Lt. Kyle Sanders and Sgt. Dan Flowerdew have been working in the positions for more than a year. Sanders was appointed as acting captain in 2009, while Flowerdew became acting lieu- tenant in February 2011. Nanfito advocated Tuesday for Sanders and Flowerdew, touting their experience. "[Sanders] has done an exceptional job managing this division," he said. As head of the operations division, Sanders is second in command and fills in for the chief in his absence. The promotions will help the department be more balanced and eliminate some of the uncertainty that has existed the past two years, Nanfito said. "Moving forward with these promotions is important for the overall efficiency and morale of the police department," he said. See RBPD, page 7A Band to honor sister Vista vandalized Inspired by his sister, Lydia Taylor-Mora who died March 3, 2005, Christopher Hutchins and his band "One Week Old" will perform March 2 at The End Zone in Chico. Taylor-Mora, a 1994 graduate of Red Bluff Union High School, suc- cumbed to breast cancer at age 27. Hutchins will be hon- oring her seven years after her death. Taylor-Mora was an actress, singer, dancer, director and choreogra- pher who was on the European tour of The Rocky Horror Show for four years both prior to and during her illness. She had also attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. She was working on becoming a doctor, studying Eastern and Western medicine in Austin, Texas. Her life is still remem- bered by her family and friends. "She has continued to influence and inspire New hope for fair funding By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer There is some good Courtesy photo Paradise rock band "One Week Old" will honor deceased Red Bluff Union High School graduate Lydia Taylor-Mora on March 2 in Chico. Chris for these last seven years since her journey took her away from this earth and deeper into our hearts," said her mother Prudence Lockhart of Sandy Point, Wash. Community colleges face unexpected budget deficit SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California com- munity college leaders warned Wednesday of an unexpected budget shortfall that could lead to more cuts in courses, staff and services. The 112-campus sys- tem faces an additional $149 million deficit because of lower-than- expected property tax revenues and greater demand for student fee waivers, said California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott. The shortfall comes on top of a $400 million reduction in state fund- ing for the current fiscal year and a $102 million midyear cut triggered when state revenues fell below projections. About $107 million of the latest shortfall comes from a dramatic increase in cash- strapped students receiving fee waivers because of the weak economy, officials said. The percentage of fees covered by waivers has risen to 62 percent, up from 57 percent in last fiscal year. ''It's just one more blow to the investments we need in higher edu- cation to have a sound economic recovery,'' said Dan Troy, vice chancellor of finance. The budget deficit could force community colleges to cut course sections, most likely in the summer, reduce teaching staff and increase borrowing, Troy said. That means more students won't be able to get the classes they need to complete degree and certificate programs. School administrators are working to convince the governor and Legis- lature to step in to cover the budget shortfall. State finance officials said it was premature to discuss additional fund- ing for the community colleges, noting that tax revenue projections are often wrong. ''We want to make sure that we have more data in hand before we make any policy deci- sions,'' said H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the state Department of Finance. Over the past three years, the state has cut funding for the commu- nity college system by $809 million, or 12 per- cent, reducing the num- ber of students served from 2.9 million to 2.6 million despite strong demand, officials said. 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Red Bluff Outdoor Power "One Week Old," a drums. Paradise rock band, is made up of Rhette Spears on vocals and guitar, Hutchins on lead guitar, Mark Darling on bass and Kevin Peake on The show honoring Taylor-Mora will be at 9 p.m., March 2, at The End Zone, on Cohassett Road in Chico. - Andrea Wagner news on the horizon for fairs with a Western Fairs Association announce- ment Wednesday that Assemblywoman Fiona Ma is working on a Cali- fornia Fair Funding and Governance Structure bill. The bill aims to find a stable funding source for the fair network and a new governance and oversight structure. "I appreciate any effort by anyone who will help to keep the fairs of Cali- fornia open for our com- munities," said Tehama District Fair CEO Mark Eidman. "Please remem- ber that the fairground is a center of activity in Tehama County. It's not just ferris wheels and showing pigs at fair time, but a place where most of the entertainment in Tehama County happens and it is used in times of emergency such as fires See FAIR, page 7A Kain named to head task force By ANDREA WAGNER DN Staff Writer Two months into his second year as Tehama County Sheriff, Dave Hencratt is juggling several big changes to county law enforcement. Changes include Assembly Bill 109 and budget cuts to drug enforcement. With California cutting funding to the Bureau of Narcotic Enforce- ment and eliminating funding for regional task force leaders, Hencratt has put up one of his own to keep the drug enforcement task force alive. Sheriff's Sgt. Dave Kain, the new commander of the Tehama Interagency Drug Enforcement task force, took over in December, after former commander Eric Maher was relocated. "Sgt. Kain has demonstrated both the skills, experience and drive necessary to continue the success of this unit," said Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston in a release. TIDE will continue with four full-time agents and one part-time agent, including those from Corn- ing Police, Cali- fornia Highway Patrol and Red Bluff Police. Other than the change in command and who will fund the agency, not much will change with TIDE, Hencratt said. Hencratt, who has a histo- ry of working in the marijuana eradication task forces, said the agency is simply back to it was in the mid 1990s, before the state stepped in. "The community wants a drug task force to continue," he said. "It made it an easy transition." Kain, who has worked in drug enforcement off and on since 2001, will continue to train and work with existing agencies to target drug traf- ficking in the county, he said. Major issues continue to be methampheta- mine, prescrip- tion drug use and marijuana sales, Kain said. State changes to prison popula- tions has also meant changes to the sheriff's department. AB109, the state realign- ment plan to lower prison populations, has put pressure on the department, which oversees the county jail as well as county arrests. Currently, Hencratt is working, through the Community Correc- tions Partnership, to establish an inmate work farm to enable alterna- tives to incarceration. See KAIN, page 7A Club to present police and fire awards By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The Corning Exchange Club will host its annual Fire and Police Officers Awards Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Corning Veterans Memorial Hall, 1620 Solano St. "We welcome the pub- lic to attend and thank our emergency personnel for their dedication and ser- vice throughout Tehama County," said President Ross Turner. Awards will be given out to emergency person- nel from each of the agencies serving Tehama County. Exchange Club mem- ber Bucky Bowen will give opening remarks and Linda Watkins Bennett from KHSL will be Mis- tress of Ceremonies. The event, which includes a New York steak dinner, will be pre- pared by the Exchange Club and served buffet style. Cost is $12.50 per person. "Proceeds from the dinner and raffle will be used to benefit many youth activities in the community and child abuse prevention pro- grams throughout Tehama County," Turner said. Raffle and auction items include one truck and trailer load of base rock delivered within a 25-mile radius by Tim Drews Trucking from Thomas Creek Rock and one night's stay at The Lodge and The Inn, both at Rolling Hills, and Hol- iday Inn Express. Frank Townley Guide Service has donated a one-day fishing trip on the Sacramento River and McCoy's Ace Hardware has donated a cordless drill. Gift baskets have been donated by Bell Carter, Rabobank and Premier- West Bank. E. Henderson Photography has donated a $150 gift certificate for sitting fee. Tickets are available at the door. For more infor- mation call 824-3240. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews .com. Follow her on Twitter @DN_Zeeb. Extensive graffiti was found Tuesday morning throughout the Vista Middle School campus, on a Red Bluff Community and Senior Center building and a vehicle parked at 820 Kimball Road. The vehicle, either a 1988 Dodge or a white 1990 GMC, had "ICP" spray painted on it, logs said. The community center damages were estimated at $200, said Detective Brett McAllister. Although the matter is still under investigation and damages haven't fully been assessed, officers estimate that the damages to the school could be as much as $2,000. The school graffiti had gang-related content and was throughout the campus, McAllister said. All the reports were linked under one case that is still under investigation. - Andrea Wagner