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THURSDAY AUGUST 2, 2012 www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 4A Breaking news at: Pastimes River Rafting Fundraiser Set RED BLUFF Gold By A Hair SPORTS 1B Sunny 103/68 Weather forecast 8B By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Red Bluff Union Elementary School District will hold a spe- cial meeting Friday with the district expected to approve its tentative agreement with the Red Bluff Elementary Educa- tors Association and rescind layoffs approved at the July 13 meeting. DAILYNEWS TEHAMACOUNTY DAILY 50¢ 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 Agreement would rescind schools layoffs Back to School gears up As a single parent, Kim Berry was given $100 anonymously to buy new school clothes for her girls. This experience led Berry to create the Back to School Project, which has now provided new school clothes to more than 1,000 local children. Donations are collected in the late spring and sum- mer to provide money for the Great Shopping Day, this year scheduled for Saturday Aug. 11. During the event, as many chil- dren as the group can sup- port are taken shopping at Walmart to buy $100 in shoes, clothes and back- packs for school. to take 175 children shop- ping this year, but 325 remain on a waiting list. Tax deductible donations are still being accepted at Back to School Project, c/o Tehama County Edu- cation Foundation, PO Box 292, Red Bluff, 96080 and must be received no later than Aug. 9. The project has enough children's confidence with new clothing and back- packs, the project spon- sors the Cuts for Kids event at River Park, which provided free haircuts to all school-aged children in Tehama County. This year's event is scheduled for 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12. In addition to boosting Local barbers and hair- dressers volunteer their See BACK, page 7A "The tentative agreement reached with the teachers is wholly dependent upon the November Tax Initiatives," Superintendent William McCoy said. "If the initiatives pass, then our school year will remain at 180 days. If the tax initiatives do not pass, there will be a subsequent reduction in the school and work year." At its maximum, the agree- ment calls for a reduction in the school year by 12 days, howev- 'I am incredibly pleased with the way in which the negotiations were conducted most recently and I am happy to have the opportu- nity to bring back our wonderful teachers' — Superintendent William McCoy er, the cuts to funding, ranging between $1-$457 per student have a correlated cut in the work and school year, McCoy said. The agreement was reached in an 11-hour negotiation ses- sion and would prevent the lay- off of 15.9 positions. "I am incredibly pleased See SCHOOLS, page 7A Woman pleads not guilty to sex with teen Lynn Raschke, 37, of Red Bluff who was arrested in April on charges relating to a sexual relationship with a teenage boy. Raschke is set to appear in the Tehama County Supe- rior Court on Sept. 10 for a trial readiness conference to set a trial date. She was arrested on April 25 at a residence in the 1600 block of Carmel Way and booked into Tehama County Jail with bail set at $25,000. A not guilty plea was entered Monday by Michelle See TEEN, page 7A Corning Youth Fair set Saturday By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer Courtesy photo Young shopper Adam can't wait to put on his shoes at the 2011 Great Shopping day. Pictured with Adam is volunteer Eileen Wright. West Nile Virus hits Glenn County to and Vector Control Dis- trict, Glenn County Ani- mal Control Services and the Glenn County Health Services Agency announced Wednesday that Glenn County has its first West Nile Virus equine infection in nearly eight years. Special to the DN Glenn County Mosqui- reminder that citizens must take action to protect their animals," said Sher- iff Larry Jones, who over- sees Animal Control Ser- vices. It is only the third horse infection in the state this season. The horse will most likely not sur- vive the infection and was located just northwest of Orland. The horse had not been vaccinated against the virus. and veterinarians remind residents to vaccinate their animals against the virus. The virus has a ten- dency to kill a third to half of the horses that become infected. Glenn County officials "This is an unfortunate Equine owners must remember that one vacci- nation does not protect a horse from the virus. Maximum protection can only be obtained with two separate vaccinations, 3 to 4 weeks apart. Owners of equine animals, which include horses, donkeys and mules, are urged to contact their local veteri- narians for more informa- tion. more prevalent this season than last year and it is important that residents take action now to protect themselves and their fam- ily members," said Health Director Scott Gruendl. Basic precautions can reduce the likelihood of infection, including drain- ing standing water, avoid- ing being outside at dawn or dusk, wearing long 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 See VIRUS, page 7A "West Nile Virus is Families can get a head start on the upcom- ing school year Satur- day at the Corning Youth Fair. The free event, orga- nized by Northern Val- ley Catholic Social Ser- vice, is entering its fifth year and provides fun activities for children and informational booths for parents. The event is sched- uled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Corning North- side Park between Colusa and Tehama streets and West and Sixth streets. Corning Rotary will sponsor a free swim day at the Corning City Pool 1-3 p.m. Event organizer Carol Curry said last year the fair had to compete with a local softball tourna- ment and football jam- boree. This year she said she hopes to see around 300 families in attendance. There will be food and drinks, face paint- ing and entertainment. Students will receive a passport, which they can fill by visiting all of the informational booths. Completed passports will then be entered into a raffle for donated backpacks stuffed with See CORNING, page 7A Fires burn north and south of county MediaNews Group Two fires were burning Wednes- day north and south of Tehama County lines. A fire north of Redding closed Interstate 5 in both directions Wednesday and prompted evacua- tions. The fire was reported at 1:38 p.m. between the Salt Creek and O'Brien exits. 'Everything is kind of spiraling out of control down there' The Salt Creek Fire was initially reported to be 15 acres, but grew to 100 acres. The U.S. Forest Service and Cal- Fire were the first responders to the fire. By 5 p.m. five overhead crews, 17 engines, a watertender, five doz- ers, four handcrews, two helicopter, an air attack aircraft and four air tankers were assigned to the fire. One structure was destroyed and multiple more were threatened. The fire was being wind driven and spreading to the east with long to short range spotting. It was described as rapid with high to extreme growth potential. The Chips Fire burning in the Plumas National Forest "exploded" Wednesday, heading south to High- way 70, which officials expect to close at some point. The fire crossed Indian Creek and has charred more than 1,000 acres a couple of miles northeast of Belden, said Lee Anne Schramel Taylor of the U.S. Forest Service. A landslide near the fire closed — Lee Anne Schramel US Forest Service one of Highway 70's lanes, Schramel Taylor said. Caltrans was working on moving the boulders. Both she and California High- way Patrol Officer James Stowe said Highway 70 would likely close soon due to the fire. "Everything is kind of spiraling out of control down there," Stowe said. Almanor basins. There is smoke in Paradise and eastern Butte County, but Butte County Air Quality Man- agement District officials say unhealthy thresholds have not been exceeded yet. The smoke plume blows west toward Paradise in the morning, then turns back east in the after- noon, according to BCAQMD. Firefighting challenges include moves to the northeast" Wednesday and moved south to the highway. More fire crews arrived Wednes- day to add to the 340 people already fighting the flames, Schramel Tay- lor said. Containment dropped from 20 percent to 10 percent, and isn't expected to be fully contained until Aug. 10. The flames made "significant said. smoke, and is visible from Chico, as well as Butt Lake and Lake "It's been going nuts today," she The fire is putting out a lot of burning debris rolling downhill. The area is rugged and only assess- able by foot or air. The fire was discovered about 2 a.m. Sunday about one mile above the highway in Chips Creek drainage. When firefighters arrived, flames were burning on both sides of the Pacific Crest Trail. It has been determined to be human- caused. An estimated cost to fight has not been released. Travelers should check with Cal- trans at www.dot.ca.gov or 1-800- 427-ROAD regarding road clo- sures. Caribou Road has been closed from Highway 70 to Butt Lake Dam, as have the three camp- grounds along it. The area has been ordered evacuated. There's also a "soft closure" of Seneca/Dixie Valley Road from Highway 89 to Butt Lake, meaning See FIRES, page 7A Firefighters were still protecting structures at Maggie's Trailer Park Wednesday.