Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/7183
SACRAMENTO (AP) — California's chief jus- tice told lawmakers Tues- day that shutting down courthouses one day a month should no longer be considered an option for helping the state close its budget deficit. Supreme Court Justice Ronald George said law- makers instead should consider extending a user fee paid by defendants. It is projected to raise $40 million for court-related security through June 30, 2011. State courts have been closed the third Wednes- day of each month since September to partially absorb a $380 million cut to their budgets. The cut did not include $65 mil- lion in unfunded costs. ''We have a lot of com- plaints from jurors who have a Wednesday break. We have longer lines on days preceding and fol- lowing court closure day. Cases take longer,'' George said in an inter- view after his annual State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the Leg- islature. The closures of 532 courthouses and fur- loughs of more than 20,000 staff members, which are scheduled to last until July, are project- ed to save about $63.3 million. The cutbacks have made the court system ''hard-pressed to provide accessible justice,'' he told lawmakers. Courts have instituted hiring freezes and elimi- nated positions, and the California Supreme Court last month closed its clerk's office in Los Angeles. George told lawmakers that the court closures are a symbol of the severity of California's economic crisis. ''These statewide clo- sures must not continue into the next fiscal year.'' Between 80 percent and 90 percent of the state's 1,700 judges also have voluntarily cut their pay by 4.6 percent, George said. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Janu- ary proposed restoring $100 million to the courts as part of his budget pro- posal, but George charac- terized that funding as uncertain. Much of the money would materialize only if the federal govern- ment gives states extra money to help balance their budgets. The governor also assumes lawmakers will endorse his proposal to retrofit cameras on city and county traffic lights as a way to catch drivers who speed through inter- sections. A share of the speeding fines would help pay to improve court security. Instead, George said the court system needs a stable source of annual funding. George urged lawmak- ers not to use fees ear- marked to build or reno- vate 41 courthouses to help run the country's largest court system, as some judges have advo- cated. Those construction projects are estimated to create 105,000 jobs, George said. ''This homegrown stimulus package affects more than just the judicial branch,'' George said. ''It could not have come at a better time for the Cali- fornia construction indus- try and the men and women employed in the building trades.'' Wednesday, February 24, 2010 – Daily News – 7A • Your loved one NEVER leaves our care. • For your peace of mind, we personally perform cremations on site. • No hidden charges. If cremation is your choice, there really is no other choice for you than the cremation experts at Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers. Contact us today so we may answer your questions. Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers Funerals • Cremations • Prearrangements 816 Walnut Street | Red Bluff (530) 527-1174 www.chapeloftheflowers.net Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers owns and operates the only on-site crematory in Tehama County. Is cremation your choice? Death Notices Obituary HERMAN "ROB" ROBERTSON Passed away Feb. 19th at his home after a long illness. He was born May 3, 1930 in Parks, Arkansas. He is preceded in life by two sons, Randy and Greg Rob- ertson. Survived by wife Do- vie of 55 years, daughter, Kellie Kilpatric, grandson Travis Long, granddaughter Brandy Pruett and 2 great- grandsons Cameron Robert- son and Hudson Long. He will be deeply missed as a wonderful husband, a great grandfather and a lov- ing grandfather. We Love you very much and you'll be missed. Services will be held at McDonalds Chapel in Redd- ing, CA, Thursday, Feb. 25th at 11:00am. Potluck will follow. Kari Frances Burch Kari Frances Burch died Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010, in Redding. She was 41. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March, 2, 2010, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Recita- tion of the Holy Rosary will be at 7 p.m. on Mon- day, March 1, 2010, at Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers. Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers is handling the arrange- ments. Published Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, in the Daily News, Red Bluff, Calif. Laura Gene Leonard Laura Gene Leonard died Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in Red Bluff. She was 84. Red Bluff Simple Cre- mations & Burial Service is handling the arrange- ments. Published Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, in the Daily News, Red Bluff, Calif. Ralph Arthur Moss Ralph Arthur Moss died Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Sacramento. He was 83. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 720 S. Jackson St., in Red Bluff. Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers is handling the arrangements. Published Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, in the Daily News, Red Bluff, Calif. "To my knowledge, they've never spoken with any cannabis attorneys or any cannabis doctors," Browne said. Browne said the propos- al should be tied to doctor's recommendations instead of property size. As it stands, it allows people to buy their way into larger marijuana growths, without exceptions for patient care- givers who grow for others on smaller properties. "Some jackass living down the street can grow 99 plants for himself," he said. "That's the reality of what they're creating here. It makes no sense at all." Having clashed with the county over marijuana issues in the past, Browne said he had given up on convincing the Board of Supervisors to seek input from medical marijuana patients and experts, and advised medical marijuana users to fight Williams' proposal in court. Williams' proposal, however, will not be intro- duced for its first reading for another three weeks. A second reading, and vote, would not be held for at least another week after the first reading. More information, including the full propos- al, is available online under Current Issues at co.tehama.ca.us. ——— Geoff Johnson can be reached at 527-2153, extension 114 or gjohnson@redbluffdailyn ews.com. Continued from page 1A POT help of many community mem- bers who have donated their time and labor. The public will get a chance to see the renovation during an open house Feb. 28. PATH volunteers hope the complete turn around of the run down house will be mirrored by the residents who pass through there. The house has been occupied for six weeks by five residents and a house monitor. One of those residents is Mon- ica Souza. Souza was released from prison and dropped off at St. Eliz- abeth Community Hospital, where she was in prelabor. Hospi- tal staff told her the baby was not going to come out any time soon and to come back later. That's when she told them she had nowhere to go. Staff contact- ed Social Services. House monitor Jodi Cordial heard about Souza's situation. She went to the hospital, talked to Souza, determined Souza had the right mindset and qualifica- tion to be in the house and accept- ed her. After having her baby, Souza was welcomed into the Sale Lane house, where a crib had been set up for baby Taliyah. Souza shows great promise in turning her life around, Cordial said. Souza has worked diligently putting in her fair share of work around the house and is following her program very well. She is well on her way to being one of the first success stories out of the Sale Lane House. Cordial, who has been home- less and gone through an alcohol recovery program, said she is blessed to be a part of PATH. Cor- dial lives in the home with the other women and develops the programs of activity they must follow. "For me to come full circle and help women in that position is to have the best job in the world," she said. "Homelessness is a huge problem in our society and some- times it happens not by their own fault. We need to get out of the problem and be a part of the solu- tion. And PATH does that, we're trying to get out of the problem and into the solution." Though the house serves as a temporary place to stay for some- one without a place to go, it is not a hotel, House Director Pam Klein said. It is a transitional home, a place where someone can come in, get the help needed and be on the way. The goal is for res- idents to stay no longer than 2 years. The house has a strict no drugs and alcohol policy. Those who want to reside there must be 90 days clean. "It's not a free ride," Klein said. "They have to show a strong willingness and desire to make changes." The open house will be 1-5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 28 at 22005 Gilmore Ranch Road. Refresh- ments will be provided. For infor- mation, call Klein at 527-6439. Those wishing to apply for res- idency at the house can call Cor- dial at 529-4668. There is still one vacancy for the 6-person occu- pancy limit. A waiting list is being formed for when the capac- ity is expanded to 15 residents. The number of people who can stay in the house will be increased when a fire alarm system is installed. PATH is still looking for money for the system, but hopes to have it in place by March. ——— Tang Lor can be reached at 527- 2153, Ext. 110 or by e-mail at tlor@redbluffdailynews.com. Continued from page 1A HOME 'Homelessness is a huge problem in our society and sometimes it happens not by their own fault. We need to get out of the problem and be a part of the solution. And PATH does that, we're trying to get out of the problem and into the solution' House monitor Jodi Cordial therefore these cuts must occur." Board member Steven Meagher said he was sympathetic to the teachers' appeals to find cuts elsewhere but the board had done everything it could with the state's 25 percent budget reduc- tion. Even if all the doors were locked up, the lights turned out and other things done to cut back on maintenance, electricity or other costs, when it comes down to it, teachers would still have to be cut, he said. "We have tried to make cuts as far away from teachers as possi- ble, but there's no way to meet the budget, " he said. "We would still have to let teachers go." ——— Tang Lor can be reached at 527- 2153, Ext. 110 or by e-mail at tlor@redbluffdailynews.com. Continued from page 1A SCHOOLS Rolling Hills Casino. There will be between six and eight teams com- prised of other Rotary clubs within Corning's district and a few of the local fire departments have joined the friendly competition, Lauderdale said. "It's all-you-can-eat, clam chowder and wine tastings are included in the cost," Lauderdale said. Previously there were separate tickets for wine tasting and admission, which confused people and left long lines for wine tasting tickets, he said. "We offset (the inclu- sion of wine tasting tick- ets) by increasing the cost a little, but it's well worth it," Lauderdale said. "We draw vendors from Red- ding, Manton and even Napa wine vendors." The Rotary fundraiser will include an exhibition of more than 75 art pieces in various media from more than 25 artists, according to a Red Bluff Art Association press release. Works by Corning High School students and the Tehama County Photo Club will be present along with cooking demonstra- tions by the casino and entertainment throughout. "It's been growing every year in popularity and donations to the club so we're looking forward to our best year yet," Lauderdale said. "Last year we had about 13 ven- dors. This year we've got double that with 26." In addition to local wineries, vendors will include RFG Fudge Com- pany and local olive oil producers. Costs for the event, which include a wine glass, clam chowder and wine tastings, are $15 pre- sale or $20 at the door. Tickets can be purchased ahead of the event at Pre- mierWest Bank, Butte Community Bank or from Rotary members. Participants must be 21 to attend. Information is available by calling 528-3500. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews. com. Continued from page 1A WINE removed from a valve and not replaced before testing. According to the investi- gation report, a DWR employee told an investiga- tor that ''the ring was not replaced because DWR did not have the time with the upcoming season.'' The report also blamed DWR for failing to maintain the steel wall that collapsed, saying the panel had ''never been inspected for integrity or safety for over 40 years.'' Cal-OSHA has fined the department more than $140,000. Continued from page 1A PROBE Calif. chief justice criticizes court closures Gov picks ed secretary SACRAMENTO (AP) — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed a former adviser as California's latest educa- tion secretary. Schwarzenegger named Bonnie Reiss on Tuesday as the sixth person to serve as his chief liaison to the state Board of Education. She served as a senior adviser to Schwarzenegger from 2003 to 2007. Most recently, Reiss was operat- ing adviser to a private equi- ty firm. The $175,000-a-year position plays only a small role in setting policy. Superintendent of public instruction Jack O'Connell oversees the state Depart- ment of Education. Lawmakers outraged by hikes SACRAMENTO (AP) — California lawmakers grilled Anthem Blue Cross executives on Tuesday about their plan to boost individual insurance premiums by as much as 39 percent, only to hear them blame the economy and a broken health care system. Democratic Assemblyman Dave Jones, of Sacramento, who chairs the Assembly Health Committee, didn't buy the excuses. ''Have you no shame?'' he asked Anthem president Leslie Margolin at a special hearing. Margolin said she was disappointed by the question. She said she understood and regretted the burden that rate increases place on California customers and offered to work with state lawmakers on health care reform. ''I will do anything I can do to take costs out of the sys- tem,'' Margolin said. ''My suggestion is we do that through partnership.'' Committee members asked what the insurer had done internally to cut costs and how much its top 10 executives received in compensation last year. Anthem executives said they could not provide specific figures. Laurel Kaufer, a single, working mother from Woodland Hills, said she received a letter from the company last month saying her premium could go up by about 34 per- cent, from $823 a month to $1,102 a month. In 10 years, she said, her premium has risen 550 percent.