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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2012 Breaking news at: Wheels on the Bus... Education www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 6A RED BLUFF Playoff Preview SPORTS 1B Weather forecast 10A Sunny 69/39 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 restores impact fees PBR goes, new events coming By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The Tehama District Fairboard learned Professional Bull Riding will not be returning to the fairgrounds. Angie Gurrola of Mesa Production told Fair CEO Mark Eidman the group intends to return the event to the Redding Rodeo grounds as the turnout was not as good at the 2011 event, Eidman said. The loss from that event will be about $5,000, but there are some other new events the fairground is pick- ing up that will help, including the National Stock Horse Association, Eidman said. The NHSA will hold its 2012 NHSA Classic starting today with most of the activities in the Pauline Davis Pavilion and Bull Sale Arena. The event will start at 8 a.m. with the non-pro/ama- teur boxing rein work followed by level 1 rein work. See PBR, page 9A Festival contributes to positive image Special to the DN Daily News photo by Chip Thompson Construction is well underway at the site of a new Holiday Inn Express just north of The Home Depot on North Main Street in Red Bluff. By ANDREA WAGNER DN Staff Writer Development Impact Fees will be reinstated after a one-year sus- pension expires March 3 in Red Bluff. City Council members opted to restart the fees after Planning Director Scot Timboe suggested that not collecting the fees did lit- tle to stimulate building in the area. "It's a lot of money not to receive," Timboe said. He referred to $815,700 that the city would have collected from building permits since the development impact fee suspen- sion went into effect March 1, 2011. The fees are collected from those requesting new building permits and fund city facilities and equipment that are needed as a result of development or growth. The deferment or suspension of the fees was passed as an incen- tive for developers to start new projects in the city. However, the city hasn't seen any building permits come through other than the Holiday Inn and a 56-unit apartment com- plex near Vista Way, that were spurred by the elimination of the fees, Timboe told the council. Developers of a new CVS Phar- macy that is being proposed near Lariat Bowl on Main Street said that such a fee wouldn't change their minds, Timboe said. The only repercussion of let- Dems seek state- run pensions for private workers SACRAMENTO (AP) — Two leading California Democrats introduced legislation Thursday that attempts to provide retire- ment savings for private- sector workers of modest means, creating a govern- ment-run program for pri- vate-sector workers whose employers do not offer pensions or 401(k) plans. They said it could help an estimated 6.7 million California workers. Sen. Kevin de Leon and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg introduced SB1234, which would require employers with five or more workers to enroll them into what they have termed a ''personal pen- sion program'' to be run by a state board. Their idea is to get small-busi- ness employees and hos- pitality workers who don't make much money to save more for their retirement. ''We must take action on the impending retire- ment tsunami,'' de Leon, of Los Angeles, said dur- ing a news conference in front of the state Treasur- er's Office. ''We cannot afford the rampant pover- ty and devastation that awaits us if we continue on our present course.'' The lawmakers said they believed their pro- gram would be the first in which a state government established a retirement program for workers in the private sector. As a program with little or no precedent, several issues remain unsettled, such as whether California tax- payers would ever be on the hook if future invest- ment returns failed to meet projections. In Michigan, the state's Municipal Employees Retirement System began offering retirement ser- vices to Indian gaming tribes in 2009 to manage benefits for tribal govern- ment employees. According to a draft, SB1234 would establish the Golden State Retire- ment Savings Trust, which would be adminis- tered by a six-member board, including the state treasurer, controller, director of finance and an appointment each by the governor, Senate and Assembly. Private-sector workers would automati- cally have 3 percent of their earnings set aside in the trust, unless they opted out. 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 See DEMS, page 9A Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb CorningMayor Gary Strack hands Volunteer Fire Chief Martin Spannaus a resolution from the city recognizing the department's 100th anniversary at the Feb. 14 City Council meeting. By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The Corning Volunteer Fire Department turned 100 on Valentine's Day, but will wait to hold its centennial celebration until April. "We're holding the cel- ebration on April 28," Chief Martin Spannaus said. "We'll start off with a pancake breakfast, hold a mini muster call and fin- ish with a dinner at Rolling Hills Casino for the public." There also will be a parade held in honor of the department. Formed Feb. 14, 1912, following the completion of a dedicated water sys- tem, there were three hose companies and A.H. Mar- shall was named chief. Since then, there have been 11 chiefs, 350 vol- unteer firefighters and numerous dispatchers. In recognition of the department's 100th, the City Council issued a res- olution honoring the department at its Feb. 14 meeting. "The Corning Volun- teer Fire Department was formed this day, probably to the hour," Spannaus said. "It was formed by a group of citizens who were concerned with fire safety." The same is true today See FIRE, page 9A ting the fee suspension expire would be that individuals who want to build homes won't get to take advantage of the suspended fees, he said. The council agreed. "It was something to try," said Mayor Pro Tem Wayne Brown. "It didn't work." The council took no action, which means the resolution sus- pending the fees will sunset, or expire, and fees will be applied to any permits filed after March 3. Fees collected may be used in part toward Parks and Recreation funding. ——— Andrea Wagner can be reached at 527-2153, extension 114 or awagner@redbluffdailynews.com. The Corning Rotary is hoping for record atten- dance at the Corning Wine, Food and Art Festi- val today and Saturday at Rolling Hills Casino. As a showcase for local wines and food products, the festival has a potential benefit that goes beyond raising money for the Rotary Foundation. "The festival attracts people from all over Northern California who would not normally visit Corning," said Kate Gris- som, marketing director of Rolling Hills Casino. "The event complements the efforts of local indi- viduals,organizations and businesses to promote our region and bring more tourists into the area." The effort Grissom refers to is the Tehama County Branding Project, an initiative to improve the local economy through tourism. "Studies show that tourists often plan their visits around what's hap- pening in the area," Gris- som said. "Events can cre- ate an image about the culture and appeal of a community. If well orga- nized, an event can strengthen a community's brand. We believe that the annual Corning Wine, Food and Art Festival does just that." Grissom isn't alone. "Tehama County is a world-renowned producer of walnuts, olives, wines See IMAGE, page 9A Corning fire department turns 100