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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2012 www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 5A Breaking news at: Education Elks Honor Area Students RED BLUFF Vball Semis SPORTS 1B likely Weather forecast 10A Rain 60/49 By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer The latest released vote count from the Tehama County Election's Department saw a flip-flop in the Corning City Council race with challenger "Willie" Willette Smith pulling 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 Vote tally flips results in Corning race 18 votes ahead of incumbent John H. Leach for the second of two seats. Former Police Chief Tony Cardenas comfortably leads the race for a 4-year term with 927 votes. Smith has 743 votes and Leach 725. Seeds of power The county's previously released tally had Leach ahead of Smith by 20 votes. Election officials have yet to count roughly 650 provisional ballots and 875 "damaged" bal- lots, said Elections Department Assistant Registrar Jennifer Vise. Vise said the ballots in both categories come from across the county and it was too early to know how many could affect the Corning race. Provisional ballots are cast when a voter for some reason does not appear on the election roll and eligibility can not be verified by a precinct worker. The ballot is counted if the elec- tion's office is able to determine a voter's eligibility. Vise said the "damaged" bal- lots are those that for some rea- son or another could not be counted by machine and will See VOTE, page 9A Additional victims identified in Gerber molestation case By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The Tehama County District Attorneys Office announced Thursday additional victims have been identified in the case of accused child molester Ralph Elvis Martin. "There are multiple victims between the ages of 2-10," Tehama County District Attorney Gregg Cohen said in a press con- ference. "We're getting close to finishing, but we're not done yet." The initial charges for which Martin, 64, was arraigned on Nov. 8 in Tehama County Superior Court are lewd act upon a child, oral copulation: use of force/injury, sex with child under 10 and lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14. Bail was set at $2 million. Courtesy photo Joni Samay poses for a picture with Alyson Wylie at the White House during a visit in October for the White House Garden Social. Local educators tour White House garden sites Samay's invitation came as result of submitting an essay Special to the DN In October, Vista Middle School Garden Ambassador Joni Samay was one of 50 people from across the nation invited to attend a series of events at the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington D.C. relat- ed to the White House Fall Garden Tour. through Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" program. Samay described the efforts of a small town school implementing a school garden and promoting healthy nutrition with the help of Chico State's Center for Nutrition & Activity Promotion. The event was organized by the the South Lawn, including the White House Kitchen Garden and beehive. Office of Public Engagement and included talks and tweets with the Deputy Director of Digital Strategy Katelyn Sabochik, Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses, Official White House Photographer Sonya Hebert and the Director of Public Engage- ment Jon Carson. private tour of the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden and The morning schedule included a Chico State Greek activities suspended by president MediaNews Group University President Paul Zingg today suspended all sorority and fraternity activities due to the recent alcohol overdose of a stu- dent and other matters. Addressing a gathering of the Greek community in the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium, he said students don't get a "free pass" for allowing a brother to drink 21 shots on his 21st birthday, and "pass out in his vomit." He was referring to the case of Mason Sumnicht, who died today of an alcohol overdose, accord- ing to the Butte County Coroner's Office. CHICO — Chico State spokesman Joe Wills would not comment on any fraternity affiliation for Sumnicht, the campus newspaper The Orion has reported he was pledging Sigma Pi this semester. A While Chico State website lists him as a member of that fraterni- ty's flag football, soccer and volleyball teams. Zingg told the Greeks they will not be able to recruit or have socials until the spring semester, at which time a re-educa- tion and reinstatement program will be devel- oped. Zingg told the group of perhaps 250 students that seven years ago there was a death due to a fraternity hazing, a riot downtown, and other episodes. He said he met with Greeks then and demand- ed changes. Things improved greatly, he said, but recently there has been slippage. Drew Calandrella, the campus vice president for student affairs, also spoke at the gathering, which lasted about 45 minutes. He pointed to problems and invited Allyson Wylie from CNAP, who played a key role in the development of health and nutrition through CNAP here at Vista. Wylie is a member of the Vista Middle School Garden Club and organizes interns and volunteers that help reg- ularly with the Vista Garden. One of the highlights was the tour inside the White House. Samay found the history of the White House fascinating. She saw The Red Room where in 1933 Eleanor Roosevelt invited women journal- Samay was able to bring a guest See SEEDS, page 9A allegation of unlawful sexual intercourse with two or more children, which would carry a sen- tence of 15 years to life, may be filed, Cohen said. The charges involve four victims, boys and girls, carrying sentences varying from three to 12 years and 15 years to life, Cohen said. Additionally a special Monday, Nov. 5, about 6:30 p.m. when a suspi- cious circumstance involving a child present at the hospital was called in to the Tehama County Sheriff's Department," Cohen said. "This case started on Deputies were sent to the hospital where the Martin investigation involving a 4-year-old girl led them to Country Kids Daycare on Redland Drive in Gerber, Cohen said. Country Kids Daycare had been operated for nine years by Martin's 57- year-old wife Virginia, who told investigators she had also operated a day- care center out of her home in southern Califor- nia prior to moving to Tehama County, Cohen said. Virginia lost her license Wednesday. Ralph Martin told investigators that he was a truck driver, but investiga- tors learned that he did have access to the chil- dren in his wife's care on a daily basis, he said. "Ralph had been left with them for periods of time while his wife ran errands or went shopping for groceries," Cohen said. "Ralph or "Ralphie" as some of the kids called him was beloved and endeared by some of the See CASE, page 9A Downtown church gets facelift By ANN WILSON The 106-year-old trim at Sacred Heart Catholic Church receives a much needed facelift from North State Painting in an effort to help assure the existence of the historical landmark for many years to come. improve the appearance and protect the wood sur- rounding (shrouding) the stained glass windows and building, but will also brighten the spirits of parishioners and the Red Bluff Community as they pass by the church. Sacred Heart Parish The paint will not only involving fraternities and sororities last semester and this semester. They included inci- dents of drinking with 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 See GREEK, page 9A invites the community to its Fine Art and Wine Fundraiser Saturday, Nov. 17. Come and enjoy a gallery of local artists. Bid in the silent auction of art and an array of baskets while tasting superb wines and a few beers complimented by scrump- tious cocktail foods and desserts. Listen to the live music of Chris Uchibori as you enjoy a relaxing evening of art and wine appreciation. Courtesy photo The lift outside the Sacred Heart Catholic Church cranes its neck as it hoists painters who busily renew the white trim on the exterior of Sacred Heart Church. The festivities in Sacred Heart Parish Hall, 2355 Monroe Ave., begin at 6 p.m. and continue until 9 p.m. when the announcement of the raf- fle winners takes place. One raffle ticket and com- plimentary wine glass accompany an event ticket See CHURCH, page 9A Unemployed due to Closure or Layoff? Start your training in January 2013 Informational Session Business Careers Financial aid available to help you. Tuesday, November 20th @ 3pm Shasta College/Tehama Campus 770 Diamond Ave., Red Bluff To register call 529.7000