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By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer A wanted man in Iraq, Sgt. Ballz is ready to make the United States his home. The cat, formerly a res- ident of an American base in Tala Far, Iraq, became a mascot of the 1-230th Army unit out of Ten- nessee. With the base clos- ing soon, orders were sent that there were to be no more animals on base. When U.S. Army CW2 Cheryl Anderson, a mem- ber of the unit, and her fel- low soldiers were told that those present would be euthanized by being shot to death, they decided to save their cat. Anderson, a native Northern Californian and sister of Cindy Dover of Red Bluff, and her fellow soldiers launched a cam- paign they called Free 'Dem Ballz, enlisting the help of friends and family. The group even created a Web site with a variety of items from hooded sweatshirts and tank tops to ties and binders to raise funds to bring the cat home. Ballz, the apparent vic- tim of a dog attack, was very thin and had a broken tooth when he first arrived on base, but quickly became the chief morale officer and mascot of the unit, Anderson said. On Tuesday, Ballz, accompanied by members of SPCA International and fellow refugees from other areas named Elvis, Boo Boo, Squeaky, Spot, Oreo and Jasmine, landed at 3:50 local time at Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC, Dover said. Ballz will be quaran- tined in Washington for two weeks and eventually live with a medic and serve as mascot of the Tennessee National Guard in Nashville. Profits from the Web site previously going to save Sgt. Ballz will now be sent to SPCA Interna- tional to help bring other animals home, Dover said. For continued updates on Ballz or to purchase items from the Save Ballz store visit http://www.zaz- zle.com/SaveBallz. Red Bluff Outdoor Power Weather forecast 6A Cloudy Rain 56/39 N EWS D AILY DAILY 50¢ WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2010 Plight of the Bumblebee Pitch Rivals Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY 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 See Page 6A SPORTS 1B 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Learn Basic EXCEL Tues., Jan. 19 TH ONE DAY ONLY! 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Job Training Center 718 Main St., Red Bluff Call 529-7000 Cost: $65.00 per person DA nabs vehicle theft, pot suspects A pair of Red Bluff residents have been arrested in connec- tion with numerous stolen vehi- cles, 131 pounds of marijuana and three assault rifles in an insurance fraud case that cross- es county lines. According to a release from District Attorney Gregg Cohen, his office recovered three Harley Davidson motorcycles, one that had been reported as stolen and two that had modi- fied Vehicle Identification Numbers, a Chevrolet Corvette that had been reported stolen four years ago, $5,320 in cash and evidence of marijuana cul- tivation. All property was found at an Ash Street residence in Red Bluff, a Wilcox Road residence in Red Bluff and a County Road 309 residence in Glenn Creek, according to the press release. Vaughn Perkins, 49, of both Red Bluff and Elk Creek, was arrested on suspicion of posses- sion of stolen property; making a fraudulent insurance claim; conspiracy to commit a crime; possession of a vehicle with an altered VIN; and possession of an illegal assault weapon. Mary Perkins, 48, also of Red Bluff, was arrested on sus- picion of possessing stolen property and cultivating mari- juana. —Staff report An ounce of prevention Local winery takes gold By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer Two Manton wineries won awards at the 2010 San Fran- cisco Chronicle Wine Competition marking their wines being among the best of the best. Ringtail Vineyards received three awards, one gold medal and two bronze. Indian Peak Vineyards received four awards, two silver and two bronze. These awards are a great honor because it means quality wine that is just as great as those that come from Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties can be found in this area, said Donna Delgado from Ringtail. "Manton is a growing wine region," she said. "It's like having a hidden treasure right here in your backyard." Ringtail owner Rob Carrillo said much of the credit for the awards go to the wine makers, Jim Livingston and Fred Boots, the latter an owner of Indian Peak. Ringtail's gold medal is for its Sweet Petite Sirah Port- style dessert wine. The bronze medals are for its 2006 Petite Sirah and Late Harvest Chardonnay. "I was surprised because there's like 4,000 wineries that we went up against, but then we produce quality fruits up here so it didn't surprise me that much," Carrillo said. Carrillo, a fourth-generation vintner, grew up in the grape producing and wine industry but is the first in his fam- ily to own a winery. Though there is no cash award, Carril- lo hopes the prestigious awards will make his wines more marketable. Ringtail made its first bottle in 2005 and opened its tast- ing room in May of 2009. This is its first year entering the competition. This is the second year of competition for Indian Peak entered the contest for the second year. Last year it received two silver medals for its wines. This year's silver medals are for its Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and the two bronze medals are for its California Zinfandel/Syrah Abstract Red and Cabernet Sauvignon. Owner Donna Boots said she's not surprised to receive the awards because of the previous honors. "This just means that we're continuing on that path of making quality wine," she said. Ringtail's gold medal Petite Sirah will be featured at the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting along with other gold medal winners. The event is Feb. 20 at Fort Mason Center's Festival Pavilion in San Francisco. Carrillo and Delgado will at the event to pour their wine. The award-winning local wines can be found at distrib- utors such as California Kitchen & Company in downtown Red Bluff, some area supermarkets, local restaurants and at the wineries' tasting rooms. Daily News photo by Geoff Johnson Hundreds of Bidwell Elementary School students and their siblings were vaccinated Tuesday afternoon against meningococcal disease. By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer Come in with anxiety, leave with a cookie. Hundreds of Bidwell Elemen- tary School students received vac- cinations for meningococcal dis- ease Tuesday as part of the coun- ty's effort to stop the bacteria from spreading after a 10-year-old boy died from a suspected infection in recent days. It may be about a week before laboratory results to confirm whether the disease is covered by its vaccines, which address four out of five of the most common strains, Public Health Director Sydnei Wilby said. But with several people hospi- talized for meningitis symptoms and one fatality, the county has lifted its age restriction — 11 years and older — for Bidwell students and siblings, who are most likely to have been exposed. By late afternoon, about 400 stu- dents and their siblings were in line or had already gotten a shot and one of 600 chocolate chip cookies. Cookies and parents weren't enough to stop some children from crying — though most adults said they were grateful the shots were available. For parents Libra and Brian Wood, the vaccinations offered some assurance that their eight children — ages 3 through 18 — would be protected. "I think it's a real good thing that the county is doing," Brian Wood said. A separate clinic is scheduled 3- 6 p.m. Thursday at Vista Middle School, where a cousin of the deceased boy attended school. No additional schools have been scheduled for vaccination clinics, though the vaccine is available to children 11 and older through Tehama County Public Health. While the rate of infection in the general public is extremely low, this is the second time a Red Bluff student has been infected in three years. In February 2008, a 5-year-old girl came down with the disease, prompting a similar series of vac- cinations. The disease is treatable if found early, but claims about 10 percent of infected parties, Wilby said. Everyone in the county has been advised to avoid making intimate contact and sharing food, lip balm or drinks. Symptoms of meningococcal disease and meningitis include a stiff neck, fever, headaches, rash, nausea, vomiting, discomfort in looking at bright lights, confusion, sleepiness or seizures. Infants may not have a stiff neck, but may appear slow, inac- tive or irritable. Anyone showing meningitis symptoms is advised to consult a physician or to go the emergency room right away. Vaccines are available at regu- larly scheduled immunization clin- ics at Public Health, 1860 Walnut St. in Red Bluff, 9-11 a.m. and 5-6 p.m. Wednesdays, 527-6824, and 1600 Solano St. in Corning, 4-6 p.m. Tuesdays, 824-4890. More information is available by calling 1-800-655-6854. ——— Geoff Johnson can be reached at 527-2153, extension 114 or gjohnson@redbluffdailynews.co m. Ringtail Vineyards 32055 Forward Road, Manton 474-5350 Tasting room open Saturday and Sunday noon-5 p.m. Weekdays by appointment Indian Peak Vineyards 31559 Forward Road, Manton 474-5506 Tasting room open Saturday and Sunday noon-5 p.m. Weekdays by appointment Troop mascot in Iraq lands safely in Washington, D. C. Courtesy photo Sgt. Ballz arrived in the U.S. Tuesday.