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8A – Daily News – Monday, May 3, 2010 Boy with cancer turns into a superhero for a day (MCT) SEATTLE — Thursday was shaping up to be just another school day for 13-year-old Erik Martin, but then something extraor- dinary happened: Spider- man called. Spiderman happens to be one of the few people who knows that Erik, too, has a secret identity — he's Electron Boy, a superhero who fights the powers of evil with light. And Spiderman needed Erik's help. Erik, who is living with liver cancer, has always wanted to be a superhero. On Thursday, the regional chapter of the Make-A- Wish Foundation granted him that wish with an elab- orate event that involved hundreds of volunteers in Bellevue, Wash., and Seat- tle. The local chapter, which serves four states, grants more than 300 wishes every year to children with life- threatening medical condi- tions, but only a few of them involve so many partici- pants. Pulling off a wish like this one required a big story, and a lot of heart. And so, with a note of panic in his voice, Spiderman explained the dilemma: "Dr. Dark" and "Blackout Boy" had imprisoned the Seattle Sounders in a locker room at Qwest Field. Only Elec- tron Boy could free them. Erik got into his red-and- blue superhero costume, and called on the powers of Moonshine Maid, who owns a DeLorean sports car. For good measure, more than 20 motorcycle officers from the Bellevue Police Department and King County and Snohomish sheriff's offices escorted Electron Boy to Seattle. "They shut down 405 _ they shut down I-90," mar- veled Moonshine Maid, aka Misty Peterson. "I thought it would just be me, in the car." At Qwest Field, Electron Boy was directed by frantic fans to the Sounders locker room, where the entire team was shouting for help behind jammed doors. With a little help from Lightning Lad, the alter ego of local actor Rob Burgess, Erik opened the door with his lightning rod. The Sounders cheered. "Thank you, Electron Boy," said defender Taylor Graham. "You saved us!" exclaimed forward Nate Jaqua. "Good job, big man," said defender Tyrone Mar- shall. And forward Steve Zakuani mutely bowed his thanks. Electron Boy seemed a little dazed by his powers. Out on Qwest Field, the Sounders gave Erik a hero's congratulations, posed for pictures and gave him a jer- sey and autographed ball. Everyone was startled when, overhead, the Jum- botron crackled to life. "Electron Boy, I am Dr. Dark and this is Blackout Does your business depend on revenue from Tehama County visitors? Tehama County Visitor Guide Proudly announcing the 2010-2011 A special magazine publication from The Daily News Handy 4.5” x 10” size Glossy Cover and Inside Pages 9,000 distribution Hotels – Restaurants Visitor Information Centers Chambers of Commerce In and out-of County! Interactive “Page-turn” online version posted on The Daily News’ Website through Spring, 2011 Advertising Reservations Deadline: Friday, May 7, 2010 To make sure your business is represented, contact your Daily News advertising representative today at (530) 527-2151 or email D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY nsouza@redbluffdailynews.com for a full fact sheet in .jpg or .pdf file format MCT photo Erik Martin,13,who has liver cancer,dressed as Electron Boy, listens to a video message from arch villains Dr. Dark and Blackout Boy. Boy," sneered an evil voice, as the villain — Edgar Hansen, and his sidekick Jake Anderson, both of Dis- covery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" — taunted the young superhero. "We are here to take over Seattle and make it dark!" On the Jumbotron, a video showed a Puget Sound Electric employee Jim Hutchinson trapped in the top of his bucket truck in front of PSE's Bellevue headquarters. Only Electron Boy could save him. As Electron Boy's Jack the Ribber Come by for the Best Lunch in town • Ribs •Tri-Tip • Pulled Pork • Specials Mon.-Fri. 11am-8pm Sat. 4-9pm 1150 Monroe St. 527-6108 DOWNTOWN RED BLUFF Sidewalk Sale!!! For bargains you won’t believe. Friday, May 7th Saturday. May 8th ~Tremendous Mark Downs~ Paid political advertisement RE-ELECT DISTRICT ATTORNEY COHEN PAID ADVERTISEMENT I For information on participation in Kids & Families call (530) 527-2151 P.A.W.S. (Partners for Animal Welfare & Safety) A Volunteer Program Dedicated to the Prevention of Litters, Not the Destruction of Unwanted animals. HOW CAN YOU HELP? CALL US! 528-8018 Please leave your number we WILL call you back P.O. Box 8908, Red Bluff CA 96080 THE VACUUM MAN 440 Antelope Boulevard Suite 6 VACUUMS (Hoover Spirit • Simplicity • Koblenz • Miele • Panasonic) SEWING MACHINES NEW & RECONDITIONED, REPAIRS, BAGS, PARTS, ACCESSORIES V 1995 $ Service with coupon acuum 440 Antelope Blvd. Suite 6 Red Bluff, CA 96080 (530) 527-8644 Member of the Better Business Bureau P.A.W.S. (Partners for Animal Welfare & Safety) Come to our BUNKO MADNESS NIGHT! This very popular game is really fun and not expensive entertainment! P.A.W.S. Says...BUNKO Fans? • Date: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 • Time: Registration at 6:00 pm Bunko at 7:00 pm • Place: Red Bluff Community & Senior Center 1500 So. Jackson (corner of Jackson & Kimball) Red Bluff • Tickets: $10.00 each. Tickets are available by calling Rita: 529-2215 or 200-4676 Marcy 528-1988 or 200-3428 or Carlene 527-7436 Also, There will be volunteers selling tickets in front of Grocery Outlet on May 6th from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tickets are limited you may wish to purchase in advance. There will be drawings for some real nice prizes. Including a special 50/50 drawing where you may be the lucky winner of 50% of the funds collected to enter that drawing! And , best of all..the net proceed of this event will benefit our spay/neuter certificate program! Accepting Enrollment for 2010-2011 Kindergarten through Eighth Grade Call (530) 527-7040 Serving Tehama County Since 1970 R H COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES Smog Check starting at $ (most cars and pick-ups) 2995 + cert. Pass or FREE retest 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. motorcade — the DeLore- an, the 25 motorcycle offi- cers and a white limo — rolled through downtown Bellevue, pedestrians stopped in their tracks and pulled out their cameras to take pictures. Clearly, somebody famous was in town. But who could it be? "It's Electron Boy," Erik's older sister, Charlotte Foote, shouted out the win- dow of the limousine. More than 250 PSE employees gathered outside the company's headquarters and cheered as Electron Boy freed the trapped work- er. "It was so loud, people in office buildings were look- ing out the window," said Make-A-Wish communica- tions director Jeannette Tar- cha. But Dr. Dark and Black- out Boy were still at large. Electron Boy got a tip that the evil duo were at the Space Needle, where they had disabled the elevator and trapped people on the observation deck. Racing back to Seattle, Electron Boy stepped out of the DeLorean to a cheering crowd of dozens of admir- ers, and confronted his nemesis. "How did you find us, Electron Boy?" Dr. Dark demanded. Erik wordlessly leapt at Dr. Dark with his lightning rod, freezing the villain. Then he unlocked the eleva- tor and freed the people trapped upstairs. Like any good super- hero, Electron Boy kept his innermost thoughts to him- self. But he did have one important thing to say: "This is the best day of my life." L C O O O H M C M S U N N T I A I Gregg Y S C T