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JULY 14-15 2012 WEEKEND Moving the Indoors Outdoors Page 3B RED BLUFF Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com Sunny 101/67 Weather forecast 10B By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer DAILYNEWS Salmon safe TEHAMACOUNTY $1.00 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 District finds way around layoffs A federal agency has determined a common herbicide used on rice farms is not likely to jeopardize three endan- gered salmonid popula- tions in the Central Valley when used in accordance to already authorized-use rules. By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- istration's Fisheries Ser- vice released its findings Monday. An agreement reached during an 11-hour negotia- tion may have saved Red Bluff Union Elementary School District from further layoffs. The school board was set to meet Friday night for a special meeting to make a declaration of district fiscal emergency and discuss the layoff of 15.9 positions. "I am happy to report that we have come to an agree- ment on a contingency plan should the November tax initiative fail," Superintendent William McCoy said. "This agreement is comprehensive in nature and is inclusive of all parts of the 2012-2013 collective bar- gaining agreement. The concessions on the part of the The service's biologi- cal opinion determined Thiobencarb was not a threat to Central Valley spring-run chinook, Sacramento River winter- run chinook nor Central Valley steelhead or the species' critical habitats because of strict rules already in place for rice farmers. Thiobencarb is a sys- tematic, preemergence herbicide that acts by inhibiting shoots of emerging seedlings according to the biologi- cal opinion. It is used to control grasses, sedge and broadleaf weeds in rice, lettuce, celery and endive food crops. See LAYOFFS, page 9A County takes silver at State Fair The service said rules implemented by local programs have already been successful in reduc- ing Thiobencarb in sur- face waters. The agency called it a "remarkable opportunity" to protect threatened and endangered species by the use of existing state and local strategies. The biological opinion was done as a part of a Graphics courtesy National Marine Fisheries Service Central Valley spring-run Chinook probable and known spawning areas in relation to 2010 rice growing areas. court settlement resulting from a lawsuit filed by the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesti- Lone wolf ventures into, out of Butte County By KATY SWEENY — Anyone looking to find California's lone wolf since it entered Butte County June 28 would have had little luck. The Department of Fish and Game's website placed it in northeast Butte County, but DFG regional wildlife program manager Karen Kovacs said it was closer to High- way 70 along the Plumas County line. MediaNews Group BUTTE MEADOWS known to be in California, Kovacs said. The last con- firmed wolf in the state was in 1924. The wolf's OR7 is the only wolf showed since Monday it moved north in Butte County and crossed Thursday into northwest- ern Plumas County, Kovacs said. collar The 2-year-old wolf left his pack in Oregon to find a mate and start a new pack, Kovacs said. He crossed into California Dec. 28. While most wolves go no more than 100 miles, OR7 has trav- eled about 2,500 miles. Why did OR7 venture into Butte County? "That's the million dollar question," Kovacs said. People in and around Butte Meadows, near where the wolf had origi- nally been reported, react- ed like Michiko Walton, who said she wasn't wor- ried Wednesday as she checked her 9-year-old son Corbin into Boy Scout Camp Lassen. Corbin, from Grass Valley, agreed and said he is curious how the wolf would live on its own. He hopes the wolf finds a mate. If Corbin sees it, he will report it to a Scout leader. Wednesday as he worked greeting Cub Scouts at Camp Lassen that super- visors take precautions. Stan Suderow said See WOLF, page 9A cides. In the settlement the National Marine Fish- eries Service agreed to complete biological opin- ions for re-registering 37 pesticide active ingredi- ents. Awards were presented to 29 California counties exhibiting in California State Fair, with Tehama County taking home a Silver Award. Solano County took Best of Show, but other counties followed closely. The counties exhibit has been a longstanding fan favorite and continues to draw crowds of fairgo- ers every year who sup- port their favorite county. Fairgoers have an opportunity to vote in the People's Choice Award, which will be announced on closing day, July 29. The exhibits are on dis- play in the California Building at Cal Expo and entrance is free with fair admission. SACRAMENTO – Among the top awards were: Best of Show Award –Solano County; Best Content Award –Placer County; Best Use of Produce/Products/Arti- facts –Sierra County; Best Marketing Award –Sacra- mento County; Best Craftsmanship Award –Solano County; Best Design Award –Placer County; Best Visitor Experience Award –Tuolumne County; Best Use of Special Effects/Animation Award –Glenn County; Best Agricultural Presentation Award –San Joaquin County; Superintendent's Award –Colusa County. Gold Awards went to Amador, Butte, Calav- eras, Glenn, Mendocino, Mono, Placer, Sacramen- to, San Joaquin, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma and Tuolumne counties. In addition to Tehama See FAIR, page 9A Corning PD Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb dispatcher joins New Corning Police Chief Don Atkins introduces the department's newest dispatcher, Rachel Bayne, to the City Council at Tuesday's meeting. Bayne, who started the job Monday, comes from Chico, where she worked as a medical secretary for Butte Home Health Hospice for seven years. She moved to Corning in December.