Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/716418
TheAssociatedPress SACRAMENTO Officials say a fire that destroyed 43 homes last year in a largely rural area north of San Francisco was sparked by an illegal marijuana growing op- eration. California Department of For- estry and Fire Protection spokes- woman Janet Upton said Wednes- day the fire was started by a faulty water heater near a site where about 100 marijuana plants were being grown. The fire burned about 108 square miles in Lake, Yolo and Colusa counties. Upton says the case remains open and two suspects are be- lieved to have fled the country. The fire was the second most destructive in the Lake County area last year, behind a fire that destroyed more than 1,300 homes. Firefighters are currently bat- tling another major blaze in the county. FAULTY WATER HEATER Official: Wildfire in 2015 sparked by pot farm By Heather Hoelscher hhoelscher@redbluffdailynews.com @DN_Heather on Twitter RED BLUFF The City Council Tuesday authorized Police Chief Kyle Sanders to sign an agree- ment to purchase an additional K-9 officer to assist in the efforts to enforce narcotic laws, appre- hend violent offenders and con- duct searches for drugs, missing persons and suspects. In 2011 the Red Bluff Police Department acquired K-9 Many, whose handler is Cpl. Michael Brown. The department has been seeking a second K-9 that will eventually replace Many when he retires. The department hopes to be able to have an additional patrol- ready K-9 officer that is cross trained to search for narcotics and be an all-around asset to the department, like Many is, Sand- ers said. The department has a K-9 RED BLUFF Police to get new K-9 officer By Heather Hoelscher hhoelscher@redbluffdailynews.com @DN_Heather on Twitter RED BLUFF The Tehama Dis- trict Fair Board of Directors has changed the animal release time back to 7 p.m. on the last day of fair, Sunday, Sept. 25, for all breeding animals. At the July 19 meeting the board discussed a new rule, which was posted in the Fair Exhibitors Handbook, stating all breed- ing animals had to stay on the grounds until the fair was over so that all fair attendees who pay for a ticket on Sunday can enjoy the animals longer. Those patrons who come on Sunday won't get the full fair ex- perience if animals are already re- leased, said CEO Mandy Staley at that meeting. One parent said her children do everything for this project and to have them up until the proposed 10 p.m. release time, and having to get home, put the animals away and down to sleep, was just not going to work. She said she ap- proves of the new 7 p.m. release time. The release time may be brought back for discussion when the fair moves to July in 2017, but it would not work for the fall fair as children have school the next day and have already taken the Friday before off. The new rule with the change states: "All market animals will be released at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. All breeding animals, rabbits and poultry will be re- leased at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. All tack, feed, signs, deco- rations and displays are not to be removed before the 7 p.m. release time. The only vehicles that will be allowed to enter be- fore 7 p.m. are the market trans- port trucks." Also being discussed is a sim- pler and a safer exit plan for ve- hicles and animal trailers away from where children are run- ning around, Staley said. Peo- ple are all trying to get out at that time and it can get really crowded. While the fair is working on a plan, any suggestions pertaining to vehicles exiting are welcomed, Staley said. TEHAMA DISTRICT FAIR Boardmovesanimalreleasetime By Julie Zeeb jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com @DN_Zeeb on Twitter RED BLUFF The first of a few public outreach efforts on the Four Beetles Forest Health and Habitat Improvement Project was held Tuesday in the form of a community conversation at the Red Bluff Community and Senior Center. "We were very pleased that people took time out of their evening to attend the meet- ing," said Eduardo Olmedo, Grindstone District ranger for the Mendocino National For- est. "Visiting with the public, discussing the current condi- tions and hearing their con- cerns benefits our planning process." After an initial introduction to the project by Supervisory Land Management Planner Jeanette Williams, attendees were free to wander amongst the various booths staffed by Forest Service Personnel. Rep- resentatives were available from botany, fisheries, hydrol- ogy, fire and fuels, wildlife, vegetation management, rec- reation and heritage depart- ments. Tree mortality has caused concern throughout California, where 66 million trees have died, even drawing the gover- nor's attention, Williams said. The years of drought, beetles, disease and tree competition for resources such as water have taken a toll at an alarm- ing rate much higher than is normally seen. Some people ask why here and why now in regards to the Four Beetles project, which is in southern Tehama County near Paskenta, and part of the answer is the insect affected trees damaged by beetles and the fairly rapid rate at which the trees are dying across the state, said Forest Supervisor MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST COMMUNITY DISCUSSES IMPACT OF TREE DEATHS PHOTOSBYJULIEZEEB— DAILYNEWS Tom Wulfert of Red Bluff asks questions of Forest Service Supervisory Land Management Planner Jeanette Williams on Tuesday at a community conversation held at the Red Bluff Community Center about tree mortality. Red Bluff resident June Cooper talks with Forest Service employee Dionne Uzes at the Botany table Tuesday at a community conversation held at the Red Bluff Community Center about tree mortality. Have a great day, Jolene Ellis GOOD MORNING The development represents a historical rapprochement with Russia that could rile U.S.- allied Gulf neighbors. PAGEB6 WORLD IranadmitsRussiausing air base to strike Syria Enticing birds, bees, and butterflies into your gardens gives a deeper dimension and greater enjoyment. PAGE A3 LOCAL Garden: B is for birds, bees and butterflies TREES PAGE 5 K-9 PAGE 5 Veryhot High: Low: 104 69 PAGE B6 Check out what's going on in your neighborhood and the community. PAGE A2 LOCAL CALENDAR Classifieds......B5 Community.....A3 Opinion............A4 Lifestyles........A6 Sports.............. A7 Weather ..........B6 INDEX Online Find more news on our website. redbluffdailynews.com U Dow Jones Industrial 18,573.94 (+21.92) U Standard & Poor's 2182.22 (+4.07) U Nasdaq 5228.66 (+1.55) BUSINESS "Visiting with the public, discussing the current conditions and hearing their concerns benefits our planning process." — Eduardo Olmedo, Grindstone District ranger for the Mendocino National Forest 530-366-3166 www.redbluffdodge.com 545 Adobe Rd., Red Bluff » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, August 18, 2016 50CENTS AN EDITION OF THE CHICO ENTERPRISE-RECORD Football Cardinals set sites on deeper playoff run Sports B1 Volleyball Bulldogs open preseason with 3-set win Sports B1 Volume131,issue195 7 58551 69001 9