Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/654615
position is to create inter- viewquestions,Steffansaid. Interview questions for the candidates applying for the superintendent po- sition will be derived from the survey answers and the community input fo- rum held on March 4. The board will review the re- sults and the top responses. Within the employee survey, if a large number of participants disagreed or answered "average" re- garding employee senti- ment on the environment at the Department of Edu- cation, those questions will be looked over more closely to ensure those issues are addressed, Steffan said. The board will then choose the five most quali- fied candidates and hopes to appoint a superinten- dent by March 22. A special meeting is scheduled at 10 a.m. Mar- cfh 22 in the Westside Room of the Red Bluff Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. Board FROMPAGE1 kept in the larger build- ing's mailroom. Plans for the new $6.3 million library were pre- liminarily approved at a March 1 Tehama County Board of Supervisors meeting, when JK Archi- tecture Partnership Pres- ident Jordan Knighton presented a video of the new design. A virtual tour of the planned facility can be viewed at https:// w w w.y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=80b6704O4Kk. The county purchased the Diamond Avenue fa- cility from Digital First Media for $500,000. Dig- ital First, which owned the building, is the par- ent company of the Daily News. The county has set aside $4 million for the project with a hope that the com- munity would help fill in the remaining gap of just more than $2 million. Of the $6.3 million, there is about $4 million in con- struction and for escala- tion of costs and $1.75 mil- lion for fees, fixtures and equipment. Construction is set to begin in July with ex- pected occupancy to take place in July 2017. The library has kicked off the fundraising cam- paign and information on upcoming events will be posted as it becomes avail- able on www.tehamacoun- tylibrary.org. Donations to the library project are wel- come and checks made out to the Tehama County Li- brary can be mailed to 645 Madison St., Red Bluff, 96080. Move FROM PAGE 1 Bail was $53,000 for Bu- lena and $65,000 for Car- vajales. Deputies from the Te- hama County Sheriff's Of- fice and California High- way Patrol assisted. Nothing further was available. Robbery FROM PAGE 1 By Dominique Soguel TheAssociatedPress ISTANBUL Business begins in earnest at sundown at "smugglers square" in Istan- bul's Aksaray neighborhood. Families trickle in, clutching their belongings and lifejackets in plastic bags while smugglers weave their way around the park, cutting deals and finaliz- ing the logistics of the jour- ney to Greece on their cell- phones. Ali, a Syrian refugee who got into the business of smuggling fellow migrants to supplement his income as a waiter, says anyone who wants to be smuggled out of Turkey must pass through Aksaray first. "Go into any store or café in Aksaray and say you want to go to Europe — you will get a million of- fers," he said. Like other smugglers in- terviewed by The Associ- ated Press, he asked to be identified only by his first name because what he is doing is illegal. The European Union and Turkey hope to reach a com- prehensive deal this week to tackle illegal migration and the refugee crisis spurred by conflicts in Syria and beyond. Under the "one- for-one" deal, which hopes to blunt the appeal of smug- gling, one Syrian refugee in Turkey would be resettled legally in an EU country for each illegal Syrian migrant turned back to Turkey. But critics fear the deal could set the stage for blan- ket deportations from the EU and the scene in Aksa- ray — where buses loaded with would-be migrants take off in the cover of night — illustrates the uphill bat- tle faced by law enforce- ment officials in a country awash with refugees and smugglers. Last year, an estimated 850,000 people, mostly Syri- ans but also Afghans, Iraqis and others, used Turkey as a launching point for dan- gerous journeys to Greece, often on overloaded din- ghies. Hundreds died along the way to their first stop en route to the rest of Europe. Over the past few months, to show it's get- ting serious, Turkey has all but shut its borders to new arrivals from its conflict- torn neighbor and cracked down on trafficking by in- creasing sea patrols, prose- cuting smugglers and stop- ping people before they can leave for Greece. In return for its efforts, Turkey stands to gain $3.3 billion in EU funding to help it improve the situa- tion of the 2.7 million Syr- ian refugees already within its borders; a much-antici- pated easing of EU visa re- strictions for Turkish citi- zens; and expedited talks about the country joining the 28-nation EU. Turkish officials at all lev- els say they are doing the best they can. But three smugglers interviewed by The Associated Press in- sist it is impossible to shut down their business, point- ing to a sharp rise in de- mand this winter compared to last. These men, whom Syrian refugees have used in recent trips, asked to be identified only by their first names because what they are doing is illegal. Meanwhile, people wait- ing for unmarked buses arranged by smugglers in Istanbul or boats in the port cities of Izmir and Canakkale often declare they would rather drown in the Aegean Sea than die in Syria, now in its sixth year of war, or stay in Turkey, where it is hard to make ends meet. "I am not happy to go to Europe," says Abu Dil- dar, a bespectacled Syrian Kurd who says he tried and failed to make a living iron- ing clothes in Turkey de- spite receiving aid from two agencies. "But I am going so that my children have a fu- ture, an education. If they remain illiterate, they will blame no one but me." For the smugglers, the risks are high but so are the rewards. Every journey re- quires a minimum $6,000 investment for a rubber boat, which will be aban- doned once the migrants reach Greece. The average fare is $1,000 for depar- tures from prime locations only a few miles from the Greek islands. Assuming at least 30 people per boat, that translates into a mini- mum profit of $24,000 per journey, divided among a handful of people. Hussam, a smuggler in the coastal city of Izmir who says he raked in more than $50,000 last summer and $7,000 so far this win- ter, says there are more pa- trols along the coast now, but people still go out once the patrols are out of sight. Although six of his smug- gling buddies have been de- tained in the past month, he's confident that busi- ness will pick up again in the summer. He interprets increased patrols at sea as a bid to prevent further dra- matic drowning accidents rather than an effort to stamp out illegal migration. Law enforcement offi- cials in Turkey defend their efforts. "We are trying our best," says Bahadir Yesiltepe, head of the anti-smuggling unit in Izmir, a coastal city of nearly 3 million people. In 2015, Izmir's police caught 11,844 migrants, in- cluding 10,566 Syrians, while 345 smugglers were sentenced. Between Janu- ary and February this year, they caught 5,803 migrants, an alarming number given therearefewerdeparturesin winter.Thesefiguresexclude those caught by the gendar- merie or the coast guard. "As long as the situation continues in Syria, and with weather conditions improv- ing, we anticipate that the intensity we saw last sum- mer will continue," Ye- siltepe says. Turkish officials say smugglers are switching strategies in response to the crackdown, exploring new departure points such as the resort town of Kas, sending out "decoy" boats that get intercepted by the coast guard while others dart across, and using dif- ferent forms of transport such as rickety fishing boats and even jet skis. "They just keep coming and coming and coming," a law enforcement official in- volved in such operations told the AP, requesting an- onymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss smug- gling. He acknowledged that a few "bad apples" in law enforcement are turning a blind eye or profiting from the business but said the main challenges are the sheer scale of the smug- gling, the shifting tactics and the inaccessibility of the kingpins. REFUGEES Turkey faces uphill battle against smuggling Snider:RaymondFranklin Snider, 92, died March 15 in Red Bluff. Arrangements are under the direction of Red Bluff Simple Crema- tions and Burial Services. Published Thursday, March 17, 2016in the Daily News, Red Bluff, California. Sutherland: Julius Suther- land, 62, died March 8in Red Bluff. Arrangements are under the direction of Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers. Published Thursday, March 17, 2016in the Daily News, Red Bluff, California. Death notices must be provided by mortuaries to the news department, are published at no charge, and feature only specific basic information about the deceased. Paid obituaries are placed through the Classified advertising department. Paid obituaries may be placed by mortuaries or by families of the deceased and include online publication linked to the newspaper's website. Paid obituaries may be of any length, may run multiple days and offer wide latitude of content, including photos. DEATH NOTICES By Jon Gambrell The Associated Press DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIR- ATES A Qatari poet im- prisoned since 2011 over verses he wrote that ap- parently offended the gov- ernment of the nation's former ruler has received a royal pardon and been freed, the United Nations said Wednesday. Muhammad ibn al- Dheeb al-Ajami's 15-year sentence, roundly criti- cized by rights groups and U.N. special rapporteurs, had exposed the limits of free speech in the oil-and- gas-rich country, home to international news broad- caster Al-Jazeera and the site of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The reasoning for the pardon by Qatar's ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, wasn't immedi- ately clear. Qatari officials did not respond to requests for comment and state me- dia did not report al-Aja- mi's late-night pardon Tuesday. The U.N.'s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights told The As- sociated Press on Wednes- day it confirmed al-Ajami's release through civil soci- ety groups working with his family. The poet's law- yer, Najeeb al-Nuaimi, said he hadn't had any contact with al-Ajami since his re- lease. Ali al-Hatab, a human rights activist who worked on al-Ajami's case, said there was no previous indi- cation that the poet would be released. "They are planning to (hold) the World Cup, so it's a good time to dispose of this case," he said. "It doesn't matter what the main reason was why he was really released. We're grateful he is out." Rights groups hailed his release, with Amnesty In- ternational calling it "long overdue good news." "It is absurd that he had to spend more than four years behind bars when his poetry was simply the peaceful expression of his conscientiously held be- liefs," said James Lynch, deputy director of Amnes- ty's Middle East and North Africa program. Al-Ajami is widely known for an Internet video of him reciting "Tu- nisian Jasmine," a poem lauding that country's popular uprising, which touched off the Arab Spring rebellions across the Middle East in 2011. In the poem, he said, "we are all Tunisia in the face of repressive" authorities and criticized Arab gov- ernments that restrict freedoms, calling them "thieves." He was charged and im- prisoned apparently over an online video showing him reciting a poem in 2010 in Egypt, where he was a literature student at Cairo University. That poem described the attri- butes of a good leader and apparently angered offi- cials in the government of Qatar's then-ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Al-Ajami initially was sentenced to life in prison in 2012, but later saw his sentence reduced to 15 years by an appeals court. He reportedly was held in solitary confinement for periods of his incarcera- tion. In June 2013, Sheikh Ha- mad handed over power to his son, Sheikh Tamim. Since then, U.N. special rapporteurs and others have repeatedly called on Qatar's emir to pardon and free al-Ajami. The poet gained his free- dom just days before the International Press Insti- tute hosts its world con- gress in Doha, the capital of Qatar, beginning Sat- urday. That event will in- clude discussions about press freedom. The institute posted a message on Twitter on Wednesday saying it wel- comed al-Ajami's release. 15-YEAR SENTENCE Qatar emir pardons, frees imprisoned poet Call 877-4DAD411 or visit www.fatherhood.gov be a dad today. Take time to EMRAH GUREL — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE A Syrian refugee couple passes the time in Aksaray neighborhood in Istanbul. DONNAWAHLHALL Donna leaves her husband Bob Hall, daughter Denise her husband Brian Zazueta of Red Bluff, grandchildren Lance and Tayler Zazueta,Guy and Paige Thissell, her brother Karl Wahl and his family. Two celebrations of life: March 25 @11 am March 31 @1 pm Paskenta Com Hall Red Bluff Elk's Lodge Potluck to follow Lunch provided Alfred E. Hyres 1923-2016 Alfred E, Hyres (Al) passed away on January 2 2016 in Crescent City, California at the age of 92. Al was born on December 24, 1923 to Lily Hyres in New York, New York. In January 1941 at the age of seventeen, Al enlisted in the United States Navy. During WW II he was stationed on the battleship USS Texas where Al was a gunners mate first class. He also served on the USS Brennan, the USS Fair, the USS Gen. H.W. Butler and the USS Everglades. During his military service, Al received the American De- fense Service Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal (3 Stars),Victory Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal and the European-African Medal (1 star). He was honorably discharged from the United States Na- vy in March 1952. In 1950, Al married Fern Barber of El Segundo Ca. Fol- lowing his military service, Al and Fern moved to Tehema County where they settled down to raise their daughter Viola. He was employed as a construction worker until 1966 when he hired on with the Tehema County Road Department. He worked there until 1985 when he retired. In 1988 Al lost his wife Fern due to a long illness. He enjoyed watching movies with his grandkids, hunting the "muletail" buck, camping, and bowling. Al also could grow a very nice garden. He loved all his dogs through the years. Al enjoyed listening to the Oakland A's on the radio. He also enjoyed crossword puzzles and playing solitaire. In 2006 he moved from the town of Tehema to Crescent City, California to be closer to his granddaughters. Al was the nicest man and always told it like it was. He touched many people with his life and he will be missed. Al was preceded in death by his wife Fern Hyres, daughter Viola Spangle, mother Lily Hyres and sister Mar- ie Jimenez. He is survived by six grandchildren, Rick Spangle and wife Marley of Eagle Point OR, Renea Daniels and hus- band Gary of Crescent City CA, Ed Spangle and wife Mary of Gold Hill OR, Brent Spangle and wife Christy of Susanville CA, Rebecca Haberman and husband Justin of Crescent City CA, and Michael Spangle of Red Bluff, CA. Al is also survived by 17 great grandchildren and 12 great great grandchildren. A Graveservice will be held at the Tehama Cemetery, Tehama, CA, Saturday March 19th at 1:00 pm. Arrangements are under the direction of Wier's Mortuary Chapel. Please sign the family's online guest book at wiersmortuary.com Obituaries Combining Quality and Low Cost is what we do. www.affordablemortuary.net•529-3655 FD1538 LocatedinChico,CA R ed Bluff Simple Cremations and Burial Service FD1931 527-1732 Now open longer hours 722 Oak Street, Red Bluff THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |NEWS | 7 A