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First woman set to lead National Guard SACRAMENTO (AP) — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed the first woman to head the California National Guard, the nation's largest guard unit. The governor's office made the announcement Monday. It said Brigadier General Mary Kight (kite) also will be the first black woman to become adju- tant general of a state's National Guard. She takes command Tuesday after a swearing-in ceremony. Kight, who is 59, is a 25-year California guard veteran. She has been assistant adjutant general since 2006 and previously spent seven years in the Air Force. She replaces General William Wade, who will become a deputy chief of staff with a North Atlantic Treaty Organization force in Italy. Kight will lead 16,600 Army National Guard and nearly 4,800 Air National Guard members. The post pays $180,201 a year and requires confirmation by the state Senate. Jessica's Law needs more hearings SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The California Supreme Court has ordered more investiga- tion into whether the state's sexually violent predator law is constitu- tional. On Monday, a 5-2 court ruled that separate inquiries must be con- ducted into the claims of four registered sex offenders who allege they can't find a place to live because the voter- approved ''Jessica's Law'' prohibits them from residing within 2,000 feet of schools, parks and other places where children congre- gate. The high court said it wasn't presented with enough evidence to sup- port or refute the claims of the four convicts, who live in areas of the state with varying housing issues. The majority court returned the cases to trial courts for more hearings, but did conclude that pro- visions of the 2006 Proposition 86 can be applied to sexually vio- lent predators convicted before the law too effect. School kids jump-rope to beat record SACRAMENTO (AP) — California schoolchild- ren are trying to jump into the Guinness Book of World Records. Tens of thousands of students at more than 500 schools across the state tried to help break the record Monday morning for most people skipping rope at the same time. At Bowling Green Charter School in Sacra- mento — the event's headquarters — about 1,000 kids and adults began hopping up and down in the playground for 10 minutes starting at 9 a.m. The event was spon- sored by Jamba Juice and the California Associa- tion for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance to raise aware- ness about physical fit- ness. Organizers say more than 88,000 people partic- ipated, breaking the previ- ous Guinness record held by 59,000 jumpers in Australia. The results still have to be certified by London- based Guinness. taste of fire investigation." In his years, Raglin says the number of calls has increase from around 600- 800 a year to more than 2,500 a year. Raglin was involved in helping build the training center and working on the ground work at the commu- nity center. He spent many hours working on projects within City Hall. "Probably not a room in City Hall we haven't worked in or on over the course of the years," Raglin said. The camaraderie of the fire department is some- thing Raglin said he would miss. "The fire department's like a family," Raglin said. "It's a tight knit group and organization. We've had a good time." Raglin already has a list of things to do. "I'll be taking care of my wife of 36-years, Kathie, doing my honey-do list, do projects and go fishing," Raglin said. Raglin plans to spend time with his three sons, Marc, Chris and Jeff. "It's been a very fun and interesting time to have worked for Vern the last 13 years," said Fire Chief Michael Bachmeyer. "His retirement brings the loss of one of our most tenured and experienced people." Bachmeyer said Raglin was a trainer at heart and a great person to have around. "He does very well tak- ing new personnel and using his knowledge and experience to mold them into functional assets for the department," Bachmeyer said. "You always have good times and better times. No matter what, Vern was someone you could lean on to help find a solution and reach an understanding that would benefit both the com- munity and the department. We will miss him quite a bit around here." Bachmeyer said he does not doubt that Raglin will stay busy even after retire- ment. "You won't ever find him sitting on the couch," Bachmeyer said. "He will stay very, very busy whether hunting, fishing or helping his sons or other family and friends with home improve- ment projects." Engineer Dave Carr was one of many Raglin helped train over the years. "I've enjoyed working with him as a shift partner," Carr said. "He knows a lot — the proverbial seen it all, done it all person. One thing about him is you never stop learning around him." Carr said Raglin has excellent cooking abilities his shift partners appreciat- ed. "Taught me my culinary skills," said Engineer Mark Moyer. Administrative Assistant Sherryl Arend has worked with Raglin for 10 years and said he is a staple around the station. "It's been fun having him around here to debate issues and at community events," Arend said. "We're really going to miss him" Tuesday, February 2, 2010 – Daily News – 7A Dr. Andrew Pomazal D.O.D.C. Physician & Surgeon General Medicine Accepting New Patients 528-2066 2050 Main St, Red Bluff • High Blood Pressure • Diabetes • Joint & Muscle Pain • Lung Problems Combining Quality and Low Cost is what we do. www.affordablemortuary.net 529-3655 Calif. lawmakers to be fined for unreported gifts SACRAMENTO (AP) — Concert tickets to Billy Joel, a taping of the ''The George Lopez Show,'' hotel stays and expensive meals are among the gifts that 31 California lawmak- ers acknowledged that they received but didn't report, and for which will pay a fine. They fessed up after a review by staff at the state's campaign watchdog agency, the Fair Political Practices Commission, found discrepancies with lob- byist reports. The lawmakers signed stipu- lations acknowledging failure to report the gifts and agreed to pay the recommended fines, Roman Porter, the commis- sion's executive director, said Monday. The commission will have the final say at its Feb. 11 meeting. ''The commission has the ability to accept or reject them,'' Porter said. Enforcement staff proposed a $200 fine for each of the 47 violations, which would amount to $9,400 collectively in fines that will be deposited in the state general fund. Failure to disclose gifts can bring fines of up to $5,000 for each violation. The commission in Decem- ber sent letters to 38 members of the Assembly and Senate for failing to report gifts totaling thousands of dollars. The records document gifts received in 2008, the last year for which such information is available. Seven lawmakers accused of reporting violations have pend- ing cases, although representa- tives for Sen. Mimi Walters, R- Mission Viejo, and Patricia Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, said the FPPC has dropped the vio- lations against them. Others have challenged the FPPC find- ings, expect to be fined later, or did not return calls seeking comment. Porter declined to comment on the outstanding cases. Among the gifts lawmakers said they did not report: meals at Ella's, a high-end restaurant in Sacramento; tickets to Billy Joel, Keith Urban and George Strait concerts; a hard-to-get ticket to the 2008 Holiday Bowl between Oklahoma State and Oregon; a taping of ABC's ''The George Lopez Show;'' and Sacramento Kings basket- ball games. Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, agreed she failed to report meals paid by AT&T, Chevron Corp. and the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, which oper- ates Pechanga Resort and Casi- no in Southern California. Her attorney had previously charac- terized the mistake as a book- keeping error. Commission staff have recommended she pay $600. Incoming Republican Leader Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cuca- monga, who failed to list $101 worth of food and drinks from the California Professional Firefighters, has agreed to pay $200. He has said his staff filed the gift under the wrong year. Representatives for several lawmakers said violations were dropped after members showed the commission had erred or lobbyists mistakenly reported a gift. Democratic state Sen. Ron Calderon of Montebello was initially informed that he should have reported $1,077 in gifts from the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies to his wife, Ana, including a stay at Pebble Beach Resorts, known for its stunning oceanfront view and world-class golf course. Calderon is chairman of the Senate Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee, which oversees the industry. ''Unless the elected official somehow enjoys or controls the gift, they're not required to report a gift to a family member so the FPPC backed off its alle- gation,'' said Calderon chief of staff Rocky Rushing. The commission in Decem- ber said it would consider imposing greater restrictions on gifts that go to relatives of pub- lic officials. Commission staff also found that Calderon had reported one other gift from the same Pebble Beach stay and a July dinner from the Association of Califor- nia Insurance Companies on July 12, Rushing said. Never- theless, Calderon was fined $600 for failing to report a $189 meal from Medtronic, $250 greens fees paid by the Cable and Telecommunications Asso- ciation and concert tickets worth $300 from Verizon. Rushing said that's because lob- byists had not provided the sen- ator's office with a letter detail- ing the gifts. ''We'll be taking indepen- dent steps from here on out to keep track of what gifts the sen- ator receives,'' Rushing said. 'Unless the elected official somehow enjoys or controls the gift, they're not required to report a gift to a family member so the FPPC backed off its allegation' Rocky Rushing, chief of staff for Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello Courtesy photo A volunteer visits with horses at Sunshine Sanctuary for Kids and Horses in this undated photo. The weapon, a KSI model 213 in 9x19mm cal- iber, had five live rounds in its magazine. There was not a round in the chamber. A check of the weapon showed it as a pawn redemption out of Corning. Stamper, who has 10 aliases including Steven Council and Steven Pad- den, was booked into the Glenn County Jail in Wil- lows for investigation of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a felon carry- ing a concealed firearm in a vehicle, a felon in posses- sion of a tear gas weapon and driving under the influ- ence of a controlled sub- stance. Including the war- rants and fresh charges, bail for Stamper was set at $140,000. Bunn, who has two other aliases, was booked on three warrants and one new charge of possession of narcotics paraphernalia. Her bail was set at $18,000. Greg Welter is a reporter with the Chico Enterprise- Record. Continued from page 1A PAIR and function, will make a differ- ence for someone who would oth- erwise probably have to use makeshift limbs or crutches, O'Sullivan said. It's important psychologically and physically for amputees to start using a prosthesis as soon as their wounds heal, he said. The amputees who receive the dona- tions will probably be able to start walking or using the arms within two to three weeks after being fitted. O'Sullivan, who uses a pros- thesis, said there are quite a num- ber of people in the community with prostheses, so he does not worry about not getting dona- tions. "The population is more than you think," he said. "Because we all wear pants, you don't realize we're running around on a pros- thesis." By late afternoon Monday, at least half-a-dozen people had dropped off one or more prostheses. Dennis Flora dropped of two prosthetic legs. Similar to other patients who have left donations, Flora said he just wanted to do something to help out. "They don't fit me anymore, and I just need one pair," he said. "Now I have room in my closet for more junk." The prostheses drive is a joint effort by Hanger, Physicians For Peace and Heather Mills, a model and activist who wears a prosthet- ic leg. Hanger has made donations of $25,000 cash and $225,000 in orthopedic devices to Physicians For Peace and Project HOPE. For information, visit www.hanger.com. or www.physi- ciansforpeace.com. Prosthetic limb donations can be dropped off at 645 Antelope Blvd., Suite 14., Red Bluff. ——— Tang Lor can be reached at 527- 2153, Ext. 110 or by e-mail at tlor@redbluffdailynews.com. Continued from page 1A HELP vaccines it needs to keep the horses safe. The com- munity's support is urgently needed if this national treasure is to sur- vive. Donations are tax- deductible and possible through several venues, including direct mail to Sunshine Sanctuary for Kids and Horses, 10931 Singer Ave., Los Molino, CA 96055, deposits into accounts at US Bank and Butte Community Bank under the name "Sunshine Sanctuary for Kids and Horses" or through the sanctuary's Web site at www.sunshinesanctuary.o rg/donate.htm. Continued from page 1A FLU Continued from page 1A CALL At redbluffdailynews.com, scroll to the end of any story, click the link and type away. CARE TO COMMENT? STATE BRIEFING Have a news tip? Call 527-2151, Ext. 112