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SACRAMENTO (AP) — The first U.S. clinical trials in more than two decades on the medical benefits of marijuana con- firm pot is effective in reducing muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and pain caused by certain neurological injuries or illnesses, according to a report issued Wednesday. Igor Grant, a psychia- trist who directs the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at the University of California, San Diego, said five studies funded by the state involved volun- teers who were randomly given real marijuana or placebos to determine if the herb provided relief not seen from traditional medicines. ''There is good evi- dence now that cannabi- noids may be either an adjunct or a first-line treat- ment,'' Grant said at a news conference where he presented the findings. The California Legisla- ture established the research center in 2000 to examine whether the ther- apeutic claims of medical marijuana advocates could withstand scientific scruti- ny. In 1996, state voters became the first in the nation to pass a law approving pot use for medical purposes. Thirteen other states have followed suit, but California is the only one so far to sponsor medical marijuana research. After By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The California High School Rodeo Association will once again play host to a unique event when the Special Rodeo comes back to town Saturday, Feb. 27 as a part of the interdistrict CHSRA event. The event begins with sign-ups at 11:30 a.m. and the rodeo, which includes barrel racing, roping, goat undecorating, bronc riding and bull riding, starts at noon in the Pauline Davis Pavilion. No animals are used in the annual event, which pairs CHSRA students from districts 1, 2 and 5 with spe- cial needs children for the rodeo competition. "This event is so awe- some for the Special Rodeo contestants and the High School Rodeo contestants," said coordinator Paula McCarley. "We are looking forward to another wonder- ful event. This is one of the highlights of our rodeo sea- son." Past contests have drawn spectators from as far away as Sacramento to come watch family members par- ticipate in the event, which is sponsored again this year by Cargill. The event, which has grown over the years to 34 contestants in 2009, is free for spectators. "Come out and watch some great rodeoing," McCarley said. Contestants will receive keepsakes and lunch. Participants must have a parent or legal guardian pre- sent to register for the event. For information call 356- 2017. Red Bluff Outdoor Power POWER PRODUCTS DOLMAR Weather forecast 6B Sunny 69/46 N EWS D AILY DAILY 50¢ THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2010 Pink Floyd tribute concert One for Vonn 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 5A SPORTS 1B Pastimes 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 Soroptimist International Red Bluff Presents... Chocolate Fantasia 2010 An evening of chocolate decadence! Saturday, February 20, 2010 6:30p.m. to 9:00p.m. The Red Bluff Veteran's Hall 735 Oak Street Red Bluff, CA 06080 Hurry buy your tickets now Ticket: $15.00 Donation Available by calling: (530) 597-2342 Or by emailing: SIRedBluffClub@Yahoo.com Proceeds benefit the SIRB Scholarship Fund Red Bluff man thrown from Jeep in Redding A Red Bluff man was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Redding with major injuries following a crash at 3:42 p.m. Tuesday. The 19-year-old man, who was thrown from his 1998 Jeep Wrangler, has been identified as Andrew Brown, said Redding CHP Officer J.D. Womack. Brown was entering south- bound Interstate 5 from Twin View Boulevard in Redding. When entering the fast lane, he drifted right before turning the steering wheel aggressively to the left, a CHP release said. This movement caused the vehicle to head toward the cen- ter median, where it rolled over, throwing Brown, who was not wearing his seat belt, out of the vehicle in the process, the release said. The vehicle came to rest on its wheels facing north in the center median next to the north- bound lanes of I-5. According to the CHP press release, preliminary investiga- tion indicated that Brown may have been using a hand held cell phone at the time of the colli- sion. — Julie Zeeb Memorial desecrated Courtesy photo A memorial on Pine Creek Road in honor of a Red Bluff man who died at the site Feb. 9 was vandalized soon after it was set up. By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer Friends and family of a Red Bluff man who died Feb. 9 are angry about an act of vandalism they say should never have happened. A white hand-made metal cross nailed to a tree marks the spot where Darrell Ogier died in a single vehicle crash on Pine Creek Road. The memorial cross was put up on the afternoon of Feb. 13 after family and friends had spent two days making it. Not more than 24 hours after the memorial had been set up it was vandalized, said Ogier's father, Ted Pearce. Someone had scratched the cross using either a pocket knife or anoth- er sharp object. "Everybody's mad about it, just livid," Pearce said. "I just don't know how to put it into words to describe this act of cruelty." Vandalizing the memorial is the same as going into a graveyard and vandalizing a grave or headstone, and hope- fully no one would be that disrespectful, so why do it to a memorial, friends said. "It's sad to think that there's someone so ill as to commit such an act. But there is," said friend Joe Le-Houiller. The cross is nailed high off the ground, so whoever van- dalized it probably went out of the way to make the dam- ages. The most offensive thing about the vandalism is that it happened even before the funeral service for Ogier was per- formed, Pearce said. The family held the service Tuesday. They think it was a reckless random act of vandalism as Ogier had no enemies, friends said. Ogier took care of those around him and made sure everyone was happy, said friend and neighbor Charles Soller. If someone wasn't smiling, he'd make them smile. He was the type of guy who would offer someone a place to stay if the person had nowhere to go, and he'd give the person the shirt off his back. The report made to the Tehama County Sheriff's Depart- ment estimated damages at $100, but for friends and fami- ly the memorial is worth more than that. They said they hope it will stay up forever, as a reminder of Ogier and the kind of man he was. ——— Tang Lor can be reached at 527-2153, Ext. 110 or by e-mail at tlor@redbluffdailynews.com. Officials get a look at tourism trailer By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer The Red Bluff City Council got a chance to find out what other people get to see about Tehama County and the surround- ing area in a tour of the California Airstream dur- ing Tuesday's meeting. The Airstream is a mobile visitor center that promotes what the Shasta Cascade region has to offer to visitors and tourists. Inside are photos of vari- ous attractions such as Mt. Shasta and Redding's Sun- dial Bridge and photos from events held through- out the region. When the floor is redone this year, it will feature a photo from the Red Bluff Round Up. The traveling center goes to events throughout the state where large crowds gather, reaching an estimated 1.6 million peo- ple in a single touring sea- son. The rule is that the Airstream only goes to events where at least 50,000 will visit it in a sin- gle day, said General Man- ager Bob Warren. At any given event, 7,000 to 8,000 pounds of brochures about the region are handed out to visitors. "By working coopera- tively together we can do more than any of the indi- vidual counties can do," Warren said. The Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Com- merce works with the Shasta Cascade Wonder- land Association because the association helps fur- ther promote Tehama County, said Chamber President Kristin Behrens. "The Airstream lets people know we invest in tourism and we're a force to reckon with," she said. "Red Bluff is worth the stop off I-5." Other counties featured in the Airstream include Butte, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou and Trinity. Information available at shastacascade.com. ——— Tang Lor can be reached at 527-2153, Ext. 110 or by e-mail at tlor@redbluffdai- lynews.com. Man jailed after shooting threat DAIRYVILLE — A 31-year-old man was arrested late Tuesday night after threatening to shoot his father and everyone else at a Bray Avenue residence. Wesley Jay Miles III had reportedly been drinking, but was not armed, when he made the threat, according to sheriff's logs. Within 40 minutes of the initial call, deputies sur- rounded the residence and beckoned Miles out using a public address system. Miles gave himself up shortly afterwards and was arrested on suspicion of issuing criminal threats and being a registered felon or addict in possession of a firearm. Miles was booked at the Tehama County Jail and bail was set at $20,000. A Ruger 10-22 .22 caliber rifle was recovered from the scene and taken into evidence, according to logs. —Geoff Johnson Special Rodeo promises special memories DN File photo Brandon Goldschmidt rides a bucking bronco at the 2009 Special Rodeo. Research shows pot can ease muscle spasms See POT, page 3A