Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/7921
SANTA CLARA (AP) — California Republicans are leaving their weekend meeting in Santa Clara enthusi- astic about their prospects for keeping the governor's seat and replacing Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer. Their own rising anger over government spending has given the GOP faithful hope for a big year at the polls. But Republican hopes are turning on whether the party can reverse its long decline in voter registration in Democratic California. Gubernatorial hope- ful Meg Whitman gave the party $250,000 to help register voters and says that's already yielded 100,000 would- be voters. She hopes that number will climb to 500,000 by Novem- ber. But Democratic state party chairman John Burton says those Republican dreams might not come true. He says Californians will see Republicans as obstructionist for stalling votes in the U.S. Senate and in Sacramen- to. Weather forecast 6A Mostly sunny 71/47 N EWS D AILY DAILY 50¢ MONDAY MARCH 15, 2010 Art therapy for mental illness Outlaw Champs 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 Vitality 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 City investigating mayor's downtown digs By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer The city is looking into the liv- ing situation of Mayor Jeff Moyer after receiving a complaint that Moyer is keeping residence in a commercial district. Moyer admits he lives in an apartment attached the Century 21 North State Property Management building at 445 Main St. "I'm not trying to hide where I live," Moyer said. When Moyer's business part- ner Ernie Martinez bought the building in March 2005, the living space was already there. They have made no major modifica- tions to the building since it was purchased. It was obvious that the attached quarters was intended as a living space, so when Moyer decided to downsize, he moved in, he said. He does not know who made the complaint and finds it disturb- ing to know that someone cares that much about where he lives. "It's unsettling to know that someone is watching me and pay- ing attention to where I live," he said. "I have no idea who this per- son is." Moyer became of aware of the complaint when he was contacted by city staff investigating the situ- ation. He is fully cooperating with the city in the investigation, does not believe in preferential treat- ment and expects to be treated like everyone else, he said. City Manager Martin Nichols said it is standard for city staff to investigate when complaints of code violations are made. He would not comment on the specif- ic situation, as it is an on-going investigation. ——— Tang Lor can be reached at 527- 2153, Ext. 110 or by e-mail at tlor@redbluffdailynews.com. 'I'm not trying to hide where I live' Mayor Jeff Moyer Batters up! Daily News photo by Geoff Johnson Manager Clayton Allen consults the Jaxx Saturday during the opening ceremony for the 52nd Red Bluff Little League season at Jackson Heights Elementary School. By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer Beneath a cloudless blue sky punc- tuated only by barbecue smoke, Red Bluff Little League teams made their 2010 debut Saturday in an opening ceremony shifted over from Friday night. Nearly 550 players and their man- agers, from T-Ball to the Major Boys and Major Girls divisions, from the Bulls to the Rockies, crammed the Jackson Heights Elementary baseball field for the opening to the 52nd Red Bluff Little League season, with League President Scott Smith han- dling the announcements. City Councilman Member Wayne Brown and Mayor Jeff Moyer dropped by to show their support, while Cub Scout Pack 154, Den 5, handled the color guard and Kerry Defonte sung the National Anthem. They were followed by First South- ern Baptist Church Youth Director Andy Hardin, who called for a moment of silence to recognize the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. Guest speaker Pat Gleason, a Red Bluff Union High School English teacher and Daily News columnist, kept his speech brief but clear. "When I was your age, kids, base- ball was a big part of my life...it was like my extended family," he said. Gleason told the audience he was brought up to believe nothing was more important than family. Then and now, Little League serves as a testament to family values, he said. The improvised speech was fol- lowed by the first pitch of the 2010 season, with players from the Botell and Schoelen families — families that had both lost a young family member in the past year — catching the ball. Supes to mull new pot plan By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer Tehama County Supervisors Tuesday will examine the mid-year budget, con- sider using federal funds to fund a busi- ness incuba- tion program and take steps that could lead to a vote on an o r d i n a n c e linking per- mitted medical m a r i j u a n a growth to property size. Bitter bud- get At 9 a.m. the county is scheduled to examine a budget beset by falling sales tax revenues, according to a draft report prepared by Fiscal Manager Kathy Peters. Plunging sales tax revenues — a statewide decline between 17 and 23 percent — have left the county with $450,000 drop in revenue. Public safety and social services should remain untouched up through the end of the fiscal year, though both could be working with smaller budgets after that, the report said. County-funded public safety operations, including the Tehama County Sheriff's Department, depend in part on Vehicle License Fees. Those fees had been tem- porarily increased and with the increase expiring in 2011, the department is planning to dip into one-time revenue sources to make ends meet, including some $25,000 from a pair of positions held vacant for more than 90 days, which will be used for communications expenses. Social Services, too, receives funding from vehicle fees and is simultaneously dealing with about a 20 per- On the agenda Where: County Board Chambers. 727 Oak St. When: 9 a.m. - Mid-year budget report 10:30 a.m. or later - Hearing on using federal funds for local business loans 1:30 p.m. - Vote on the first reading of a medical marijuana ordinance Who: Meetings are free and open to the public Garden tips for even greenest of thumbs By GEOFF JOHNSON DN Staff Writer From fertilizer to firebreaks, the Tehama County Resource Conservation District is giving locals a rake up on gardening. The district Saturday held the second of three workshops planned for the season, each focused on gardening techniques. Weekend topics, presented to a group of about 30, included water management strategies, including keeping plants with similar water needs together; how to determine ideal irrigation depth and advice on avoiding water pollution. The home-use of pesticides can create more pollution than agricultural use, because home gardeners are more likely to use pesticides carelessly, District Manager Vicky Dawley said. Instead, she advised using "inte- grated pest management," a method of balancing native species against each other. The five-hour seminar covered how to build up soil without the use of tilling, which can disturb microorganisms on the top sur- face. Workshops have long been a staple of the district, going back Daily News photo by Geoff Johnson Tehama County Resource Conservation District Manager Vicky Dawley explains the efforts volunteers at one of the district's workshops put into planting strawberry seeds on the Tehama County District Fairground. GOP enthusiasm: Will it turn into registration hike? See POT, page 3A See GARDEN, page 3A News tip? Call 527-2151, Ext. 112