Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/57942
MARCH 10-11 2012 WEEKEND Spartans Name New Coach RED BLUFF Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com MUNCH MADNESS PIZZA EDITION Partly cloudy 66/44 Weather forecast 10B DAILYNEWS Water works TEHAMACOUNTY $1.00 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 Men arrested after pulling gun By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Two Corning men were arrested Thursday evening in connection with a fight during which a gun was bran- dished about 10:15 p.m. at the Corning Family Fun Center parking lot, 2075 Solano St. Corning Police were sent to the parking lot for reports of a fight and learned en route that a man had brandished a revolver. Upon officer arrival, officers learned a private citizen was following the vehicle with the suspected gunman. Officers caught up with the vehicle in the 1800 block of Manzanillo Lane, conducted a felony stop and See GUN, page 9A Oil producer wins Best of Show CORNING – Lucero Daily News photo by Andrea Wagner Sheli Wingo, conservation partnerships coordinator for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service searches for a sample of threatened fairie shrimp in a vernal pool on the Vina Plains Wednes- day during a field trip of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy board. By ANDREA WAGNER DN Staff Writer Tehama County this week hosted the 21st regional board meeting of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, one of 10 state agencies that distribute specific grant funds and promote public benefit projects relating to land and environmental issues. The agency's goal is to provide a "strategic direc- tion" to the Sierra Nevada region by giving grant fund- ing to local projects, offering technical assistance and working on partnerships between local, state and feder- Calif jobless rate dips to lowest level since 2009 PASADENA (AP) — Word that California's unemployment rate dipped below 11 percent for the first time in three years pro- vided just a small sliver of hope — but a sliver nonetheless — for people who in some cases have been making weekly trips to the unemployment office for years. The jobless rate of 10.9 percent is down three-tenths of a percentage point from December's adjusted rate of 11.2 percent, the lowest since April 2009, the state Employment Development Department said Friday. ''Down 10.9 percent from 11.2 percent, huh?'' Chris Walker asked with a laugh as he looked up from a computer screen where he'd been scanning job list- ings at a bustling Employ- ment Development Depart- ment office in Pasadena. ''Well, I guess it's a good sign that it is going down. Even 10.9 percent is an indi- cator, I guess. And maybe a hopeful indicator.'' Walker has been a con- struction contractor for 20 years, a mostly unemployed one for the last three after his business collapsed along with the recession that took down California's last hous- ing boom. His baseball cap turned backward as he stared at the screen, he was seeking any part-time work he might be able to find until he can rebuild his business. The recent decline in unemployment has made him ''cautiously opti- mistic,'' he said, but he doesn't really expect his business to recover until unemployment falls to 8 or 9 percent and more people with more money start spending it on construction. Still, there appeared to be some reason for his opti- mism. January was the fifth consecutive month in which the employment rate has dropped. It fell a full per- centage point during that period. ''It looks like we're going in the right direction,'' department spokesman Kevin Callori said. ''It just looks like, overall, things are looking better.'' Meanwhile, 20 miles from upscale Pasadena, at a job fair that attracted several hundred people to the com- See JOBS, page 9A al governments and nonprofit organizations. Tehama County is represented by Lassen County Supervisor Brian Dahle of the North Subregion. How- ever, local Supervisor Ron Warner gave a welcome and introduction to the conservancy at both the field trip Wednesday afternoon and the board meeting Thursday morning. Sierra Nevada Conservancy board members and supporting staff traveled in state-funded hybrid SUVs to Vina Wednesday and were given a tour of a the Lazy See WATER, page 9A Olive Oil was awarded two prestigious honors Saturday, March 3, at the California Olive Oil Council's 2012 olive oil competition. Lucero Ascolano Extra Virgin Olive Oil won Best of Show and Lucero Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil won a gold medal among large olive oil producers. "We feel so fortunate to receive this award, especially for the second time," said Dewey Lucero, founder and owner of Lucero Olive Oil. "To be acknowl- edged by our peers and friends in the industry and to know that con- sumers appreciate the product we work so hard to produce is extremely rewarding. We thank the California Olive Oil Council for recognizing not only our olive oil, but olive oil producers throughout California." Lucero Olive Oil is the most highly awarded olive oil producer in North America, having won 131 awards since it See OIL, page 9A favorite. The beloved institution is known not just by Red Bluffers, but by travelers up and down Interstate 5. Across the table sits Little Caesars and its brilliantly affordable Hot-N-Ready $5 pizza. For five bucks it's hard to find a better dining deal in town. The sauce is spicy. The pepperonis zesty and in these tough economic times it'll leave you grinning at the cash register as well as the table. MUNCH MADNESS Sweet 16 March 10-17 Luigi's Pzza Little Caesars E's Locker Room Lariat Bowl Lakeside Domino's Papa Murphy's Firehouse TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA Elite Ate March 24 Luigi's Pzza E's Locker Room Final 4 March 31 But this competition is strictly based on taste and on that scale Luigi's offers a pie worth every dollar. Munch Madness to decide best pizza E's Locker Room Saver vs. savor Luigi's Pizza comes into the tournament as a heavy- One bite in and your mouth is filled with a moist dough, a perfect blend of cheeses and some top-of-the-line ingredients. If you're stretching until pay day then Cae- sars is your choice, but once you cash that check it's time for Luigi's. E ticket Throughout the various Munch Madness tournaments one thing we've learned is that Lariat Bowl has a fine menu that's often overlooked as a dining option. Meanwhile, the secluded E's Locker Room has just about everything you could imagine — except for the bowling. When it comes to pizza both of these places deliver on taste, though not to your door. Lariat Bowl's pie strikes a surprisingly spicy and tangy sausage on top of an already quality pizza with just the right blend of crust, sauce and cheese. Luigi's Pizza Lakeside Firehouse April 2, 2012 Chompionship As most bowling alleys have a captive audience, Lariat's pizza is much better than you would expect and the perfect way to round out an evening on the lanes. See PIZZA, page 9A Captain Mark Ratledge Fundraiser Monday, March 12 4-10pm Reviews by: Daily News staff Call restaurant for more details! 220 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 527-6164 Proceeds will go to Mark Ratledge's fiancee and children