Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/6708
FRESNO (AP) — Environmentalists say a federal judge's order to temporarily allow unre- stricted pumping in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta threatens to push endangered salmon into extinction. Last week's decision by U.S. District Court Judge Oliver Wanger freed up irrigation sup- plies for farms ham- mered by years of drought. Farmers had complained that pump- ing restrictions in place to protect winter-run Chinook salmon wors- ened their situation. Some of the country's largest growers pressed for the restrictions to be lifted to nurture their fields and orchards. But the Natural Resources Defense Council and Earthjustice argue that the limits are necessary to help keep West Coast fishermen in business and protect their dwindling catch. Wanger will hear their motion in his Fres- no courtroom Wednes- day. Weather forecast 8B Cloudy, Showers 56/36 N EWS D AILY DAILY 50¢ TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2010 Little Reno Night fundraiser Danica's Debut 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 2A SPORTS 1B Community 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 STOP THE PAIN FROM NEUROPATHY, SHINGLES, ARTHRITIS, AND POST SURGERY. DR. SWAIM'S PAIN CREAM NOW AVAILABLE IN OUR OFFICE AT 2530 SR MARY COLUMBA DR. RED BLUFF, CA 96080 (530) 527-7584 Smog Inspection $ 29 95 (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) Pass or FREE retest 195 S. Main St. Red Bluff 530 527-9841 COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR + cert. Learn Intermediate EXCEL Tues., Feb. 16 TH 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Cost: $65.00 per person Job Training Center 718 Main St., Red Bluff Call 529-7000 to register Corning to revisit limits on pot growing By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer CORNING— The City Council will hold the second reading of Ordinance 639, adding regulations for the culti- vation of medical marijuana, at tonight's meeting. The council will also be dis- cussing payment of City Attor- ney Mike Fitzpatrick's retire- ment funds, which have been held by the city, and funding requests from two organiza- tions. The marijuana cultivation ordinance was brought to the Jan. 26 meeting, when several residents spoke both for and against medical marijuana with- in city limits. The ordinance would prohib- it outdoor cultivation and limit cultivation to a maximum of 120 square feet. It would ban cultivation within residences, require culti- vation buildings to have a venti- lation system approved by a building official and a six-foot fence with a minimum of 10 feet between property line and the building. Cultivators would be required to register with the planning department and all non-conforming or grandfa- thered medical marijuana culti- vators would need to comply with the new ordinance by Dec. 31. Fitzpatrick's retirement funds total $46,970.18, not including interest. The money was what the city would have contributed to a PERS retirement account for Fitzpatrick, which was part of the contract until it was learned that multiple accounts are not allowed. Fitzpatrick also is employed with Anderson and previously had a PERS account with Trinity County. The council will meet in a closed session starting at 6:30 p.m. with the session re-open- ing at 7:30 p.m. Council mem- bers will receive advice on the matter from the law firm of Liebert, Cassidy and Whitmore. The Corning Senior Center If you go... What: Corning City Council When: 7:30 p.m. today Where: City Hall, 794 Third St. Sarah Surge Daily News photo by Geoff Johnson Nicole Kirtley, 23, and her boss Linda Olson, both of Eureka, closed down Rao Construction for the day to attend a speech by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin Monday at the Redding Convention Center. As the employee of a small business, Kirtley said she felt a kinship with Palin. Former candidate draws huge crowds By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer REDDING — The first of two Monday appearances by former Republican vice presidential nomi- nee Sarah Palin drew crowds that stretched all over Arboretum Drive and traffic that jammed up Highway 44. Tickets for a 7 p.m. Monday speech by the former Alaskan gov- ernor, set to open the 2010 Shasta Cascade Logging Expo, sold out, leading to a second booking for 3 p.m., called "An Afternoon with Sarah Palin," Monday. Event officials would not say how many tickets were left, but claimed few tickets remained by the time the show began. Under normal conditions, the Redding Convention Center can accommodate 2,072 people, according to officials. The press was not allowed into the event, a decision event officials attributed to Palin's camp. Cameras were also banned. According to the Associated Press, which purchased a $74 tick- et, Palin called studies supporting global climate change a ''bunch of County to expand grants to tractors By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer Starting in March, Tehama County farmers may be able to get a new tractor for a fraction of the cost. Tehama County Air Pollution Control District offi- cials are readying an expansion to the local Carl Moyer grant program, which has long paid to replace the state's diesel engines with lower- or zero-emission alternatives. "It's not so much as that it's a lot of pollution (from a given diesel engine) as it is the kind of pollution," Air Pollution Specialist Joe Sunday said. "Diesel particu- late emissions represent a significant cancer risk to the entire population." With hundreds of diesel engines pumping fumes, they threaten to change the air quality everywhere in the county, he said. Replacements have been limited to diesel water pumps since the program began 12 years ago. It has been successful in replacing about 75 of 400 engines across the county, 25 of which have been zero-emission electric engines. The county's Air Pollution Control District is hop- ing to do the same for tractors. Pending legal review by County Counsel, the district may soon be able to pay for 80 percent, or up to $50,000, towards the cost of a new, cleaner tractor. Sunday said he anticipates receiving around $300,000 dollars from the California Air Resources Board for the first year to split between stationary engine replacement and tractor replacement, but the program could continue through the next five years. The catch is that Carl Moyer grants are supposed to help the public prepare for stricter emission regula- tions. Farmers are typically only eligible for the pro- gram if it helps them reduce emissions in advance of stricter regulations. "Carl Moyer works best before the laws start coming into place," said Kristin Hall, also an air pollution spe- cialist. Once those regulations are in effect, the burden of cost will be entirely on the equipment owner, who may otherwise face penalties. At least initially, the program will target older trac- tors, with preference given to tractors used most often. Sunday and Hall expect to conduct outreach through newspapers, farming organizations and former grant recipients, but information also is available by calling the Air Pollution Control District at 527-3717. ——— Geoff Johnson can be reached at 527-2153, extension 114 or gjohnson@redbluffdailynews.com. Local talents ready to take to the stage By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer Talented local youths will be going all out Sat- urday as they compete in the fourth annual Search for Talent Competition, hosted by the Red Bluff Exchange Club. The show will include a number of singers, at least one dance team and piano players among other talents, said club member Ben Hughes. "This year's group of talent is outstanding," Hughes said. "I think whoever comes to the evening will certainly enjoy themselves and find that it was well worth- while." Of the 28 performances at the audition, nine were cut and 19 performances DN file photo 2009 Senior Division winner Devin Penner performs during the third annual talent search. Ecologists say fish will be harmed by unlimited pumping News tip? Call 527-2151 See POT, page 7A See LOCAL, page 7A See SARAH, page 7A