Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/6907
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is funding a June ballot initiative that would amend California's constitution to make it much harder for cities and counties to offer residents another choice for buying their power. The investor-owned utility, which has about 15 million customers in north- ern and central California, has already spent $6.5 mil- lion on Proposition 16, according to state cam- paign records. The compa- ny is the sole source of the initiative's funding. The initiative would require a two-thirds, or super-majority, vote before local governments could create a new form of public power called ''community choice aggregation,'' or CCA. These public power entities, made possible by state legislation passed in 2002 after the state's ener- gy crisis, allow cities or counties to buy energy on the wholesale market to sell to residents. PG&E says a constitu- tional amendment is need- ed to protect taxpayers and ratepayers from possible losses incurred by inexpe- rienced local governments entering the risky power wholesaling business. Opponents say PG&E is abusing the state's initia- tive process to protect its business interests. ''This is a complex and risky business and we believe taxpayers should By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Ride For Life is about to make its return to Red Bluff, where the second ever event like it in the nation was held for the first time in April of 2009. "We hope you will join us on April 3, 2010," said Jessica Mcdonald, co-chair- woman and co-founder of the event. "In 2009, we were overwhelmed by the support that our community poured out through dona- tions as well as partici- pants." Macdonald said last year's inaugural event had more than 120 registered riders and raised about $28,000 for the American Cancer Society. Ride For Life, like Relay For Life, is composed of teams going around the track, but with participants on horses instead of walk- ing. The event was started by Mcdonald and her friend Bailey Brownfield as the girls' 4-H Emerald Star Pro- ject, after hearing about a 2004 event held by Holly LaCount in Humboldt County. "I am really excited for our 2010 event," Brownfield said. "We had such great support from the communi- ty, friends and family last year to help make our first Ride For Life a huge suc- cess and so far this year it Weather forecast 8B Mostly cloudy 69/48 N EWS D AILY DAILY 50¢ TUESDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2010 Hot Rod Hombres Miller to take the field 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 Inside SPORTS 1B American Profile 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. Use fees may threaten youth sports By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer Red Bluff High's decision to start implementing its facility usage fees is making youth sports officials unhappy with what they see as the district's way to supplement its shrinking budget. Red Bluff Youth Football President Eric Coates was most critical of the decision, saying when the budget was good, the school didn't feel the need to raise the fee, but now the dis- trict is looking for money and thinks it can take it from youth sports. "Any youth teams that use the facility are in the same boat," Coates said. "We're all nonprofits trying to give the kids something to do, and they're trying to run us out of town. We're going to do every- thing we can to make it work, but it's hard to say what our options will be down the road." Youth football had a three- year contract, which ended in 2009, to pay the high school $5,000 per year in facility usage fees. Though the high school has not given an exact amount for the 2010 season, Coates said he has heard that fees could be more than double the previous cost. The school needs to remem- ber most athletes who play at the high school level get their start in youth sports, Coates said. If youth sports programs are impacted by the increase, he can only fathom what will hap- pen to high school athletics. "They're wanting to make money off of us, but they have to realize that we're just a feed- er system for all their pro- grams," Coates said. Five football teams and five cheer squads will have nowhere to go if youth football cannot afford to pay to use the fields. Other youth sports that use 'We met individually with each group, and they knew about the increase. It is nothing new. What is new is that we are going to implement it' Joe Kittle, RBUHS maintenance director Stitch in time By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer A variety of quilts in all kinds of colors and patterns were available for viewing at the Paskenta Quilters Memorial Quilt Show held Monday at the Paskenta Community Hall. The event included a lunch put on as a fundraiser by the Flournoy-Paskenta 4-H, a small gathering of six vendors for people to browse through and door prizes given out every half hour. "It's a tribute to the memories of our quilter friends who have passed on," member Linda Solberg said. "We try to have a different theme each year and this year it's Quiltin' To The Oldies." The show was started in 1975, but became a memo- rial to friends who had passed on after the death of Judy Chamberlain, who was the leader of the Paskenta Quil- ters, Solberg said. Solberg said the show would not be possible without the help of members' husbands who help with the set- up. While the group tries to hold the show every two years, it doesn't always happen, she said. Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Paskenta Quilters members Dolores Bunton and Linda Solberg admire a quilt made by friend and fellow Quilter Mary Burt at the Paskenta Quilters Memorial Quilt Show held Monday at the Paskenta Community Hall. Burt, who died last year, is one of several members the memorial quilt show honors. Men arrested after late night gunfire By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The quiet of the early morn- ing on Valentine's Day was dis- rupted in Red Bluff when a Corning man shot a gun into the air during a fight in the parking lot on the corner of Washington and Pine streets. Red Bluff Police Officers were initially dispatched to a report at 1:48 a.m. Sunday of a fight between two women. Upon arrival, officers learned that Samuel Isael Ayala, 21, of Corning, had removed a firearm from his vehicle and fired the handgun into the air while standing in a crowd of people in the parking lot, an RBPD release said. The gun was later found in Ayala's vehicle with his passen- ger Everardo Barragan, 28, of Red Bluff, who had reportedly been involved in a fight in the parking lot. Officers found several pack- ages of cocaine along with ammunition for the firearm found in Ayala's vehicle. Ayala was booked into Tehama County Jail on the charges of discharging a firearm in a gross negligent manner, possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine for sale transportation of cocaine for sale, possession of a loaded firearm with a controlled substance and concealed firearm in a vehi- cle. Bail was set at $90,000. Barragan was booked on the charges of concealed firearm in a vehicle, possession of cocaine, posses- sion of cocaine for sale and possession of a loaded firearm with a controlled substance. Bail was set at $55,000. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Sgt. Jason Beeman at 527-8282. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com. Ayala Barragan Ride For Life set to return Courtesy photo Riders participate in the 2009 Ride For Life event held at the Tehama District Fairground. It was the second ever to be held in the country. Public power backers cry foul over utility effort See FEES, page 7A See STITCH, page 7A See RIDE, page 7A See FOUL, page 7A