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KPAY News Archives for 2016-04

Fire Burns Covered Cooking Area Outside Chico Restaurant

The strong winds whipped the flames of a meat smoker in the cooking area outside of Sipho's Resaurant and Cafe on Dayton Road in Chico around 1 pm Thursday. The flames reportedly lit a nearby fence on fire before fire crews arrived to contain it. According to Chico Fire, the restaurant's owner suffered from burns and was transported to Enloe Medical Center. 

Rose Garden In Chico Is Set To Open Next Month

The grand opening of the Creekside Rose Garden and Event Center behind the CARD Center on Vallombrosa Avenue is set for Wednesday May 4th.

 

Chico resident Marilyn Warrens came up with the idea and donated over one hundred thousand dollars to the rose garden. The Butte Rose Society along with Mendon's Nursery in Paradise helped with providing the roses and also helped with donations. 

 

The event will start will start at 6 pm and go until 8 pm. There will be refreshments and a no host bar.

 

Massive Fire Destroys A Walnut Plant Near Corning

The blaze started around 11 pm Wednesday night at the Eco-Shell facility on Corning Road in Richfield. Fire crews were able to contain the flames to the 10,000 square foot building. The flames however sparked up again around 9 am Thursday and reportedly was still burning as of 7 pm Thursday night.

According to fire officials, all the employees were evacuated from the building and no one was hurt in the fire. Fire crews will reportedly be at the facility today to make sure that the flames are totally out. 

 

Chico Police Are Investigating A Series Of Arson Fires

 Officers saw a vegetation fire in Lindo Channel near Highway 99 overpass and Manzanita Avenue before 11:30 pm Thursday. Firefighters were able to put out that blaze. Then about an hour later a dumpster fire was reported behind S&S produce on Mangrove Avenue. Not long after that two other dumpster fires were reported along East Lindo near Neal Dow Avenue. All those blazes were put out by Chico Fire. No structures were damaged and no one was hurt in the fires. According to Chico PD, the suspect or suspects are unknown at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chico Police Department.

Chico Teen Arrested For Setting Fires In Paradise

Two small spot fires were reported near a bike path that runs along the Skyway just before 2:30 Tuesday afternoon. One fire was started the area of Elliott Road and Paradise Community Park and the other was started between Neal and Foster. Witnesses told police that a teenage girl was allegedly seen leaving the area and that they saw smoke afterwords. Officers found a girl that matched the suspect's description near Foster Road. She reportedly took off but officers were able to catch her. She was arrested and charged with arson.  

 

State Water Board Disagrees With EPA Report On North State Drinking Water

The State Water Board says a report about lead in drinking water at some Northstate businesses is incorrect. A recent report released by the Environmental Protection Agency stated that lead was found at various businesses and schools in Butte and Glenn Counties. The State Water Board however, claims that report was inaccurate. According to the water board, it was a data entry error. Officials say that lead isn't typically a problem because the water here is hard and doesn't usually corrode pipes.       

 

Firefighters Battle Late Night Fire In Corning

The blaze started at the Walnut Shell Processing facility on Grange Road. According to Cal Fire the building was engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived. The building and a nearby trailer were reportedly destroyed in the fire. Cal Fire officials say that walnut shells are highly combustible making it hard to put out the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

 

Burglary Suspect Keeps Authorities Busy For Several Hours

25-year-old Cesar Macedo reportedly holed himself up in a residence on Toomes Avenue in Corning on Tuesday. He's suspected of stealing several firearms from that home earlier this month. He was reportedly seen running outside and then went back into the house. Police tried to negotiate with him and when he finally came out again shots were exchanged. Authorities used a taser to subdue him but then more shots were fired, injuring him, as well as an officer and a K9. Macedo will be charged with several felonies, including attempted murder of a police officer.

Good News For Lake Oroville

Here's one you haven't heard for a few years--Lake Oroville is almost full. Recent Rains have pushed the lake to 11 feet from the top. The latest word from the State Department of Water Resources is the lake is now at 889 feet. That's good news for water supply AND boaters, who haven't seen this for some time. There is one downside, though--logs that used to be in the mud are now in the water, posing some risk for those on the lake. 

 

Fire Training A Sign That Warm Weather Isn't Far Behind

Chico Firefighters got put through their paces Monday in Upper Bidwell Park. Division Chief Jessie Alexander says it amounts to wildland fire refresher training.

 

 

Those four exercises include how to lay attacking fire hose, the entering of a structure and deployment of personnel into a burning structure and a mobile attachment exercise for laying fire hose during extreme fire conditions. Alexander expects it takes about 2 hours per company and will go on into next month.

Two Butte County Highway Projects Could Continue Despite State Cuts

 Over 7 hundred million dollars in cuts have been made to California road building plans. The California Transportation Commission has however recommended that a project to add passing lanes between Ophir Road and Palermo Road on Highway 70 south of Oroville be kept a part of the State Transportation Improvement Program. The replacement of a bridge over Butte Creek has also been kept alive. However, two additional passing lanes on Highway 70 have been dropped from the plan.   

 

Several Forums Planned For Voters To Meet Local Candidates

Local voters who want to hear  from candidates running for public office are invited to several forums this week and next.

 

On Wednesday voters can hear incumbent Supervisor Steve Lambert square off against challenger Mark Jensen at 6:30pm at the Gridley Library.

 

On Thursday incumbent Supervisor Bill Connelly faces challengers JR Stoker and Thomas Warner at the Centennial Cultural Center at 6:30pm in Oroville. 

 

On Tuesday, May 3rd, the various challengers for Congress will be at the Harlan Adams Theater at Chico State at 6:30pm. Incumbent Doug LaMalfa has reportedly declined to attend the forum.

 

Bruce's Corner: Prince was a musical innovator, but pretty tight-fisted otherwise.

 In the days after his death last week, many fans may have had a hard time finding Prince's music online,. There's a reason for that. Prince may have been an innovator when it came to music, but when it came to technology, he was pretty old school. It seems he maintained an unusual degree of control over his music. He was his own publisher, negotiations were not through lawyers but directly with him, and he refused to release his music to Spotify, Alphabet or Google's You Tube. And with no obvious heirs it's anyone's guess whether anyone will soften any of the hard positions taken by the pop star over issues like digital rights to his music. Oh, and Prince said he didn't own an iPhone and considered the Internet a passing fad.

Long Planned Sites Resovoir Project Comes Before Butte Supervisors Tuesday

 

Butte Supervisors may weigh in Tuesday on the long running Sites Reservoir Project. The issue is whether the Board wants to side with the project in a letter to the State Water Commission. County Administrator Paul Hahn says Supervisors will look at the pros and cons and see where Butte fits in the project.

 

 

The County Water Commission is urging the Supervisors support Proposition 1 funding for the project. “Sites” is a large reservoir planned for a valley near the town of Maxwell in nearby Colusa County. 

California Deputy Dies Days After Being Swept Into Ocean

CHICO, Calif. (AP) — A Lake County Sheriff's deputy has died after being swept into the ocean along the Mendocino Coast earlier this week.

 

Deputy Jacob Steely was pronounced brain dead at Enloe Hospital in Chico on Thursday after several days in critical condition in the intensive care unit. He and his 11-year-old son were both swept into the water by a rogue wave. The son was rescued, treated and released from an area hospital.

 

Mendocino volunteer firefighters received a call Monday that two people had fallen into the ocean in a rocky area near Mendocino Point. There is no beach and there was no way for them to get out of the water on their own.

 

The deputy had been floating face down in the water for about 10 or 15 minutes before rescuers reached him.

 

 

CHICO, Calif. (AP) — A Lake County Sheriff's deputy has died after being swept into the ocean along the Mendocino Coast earlier this week.

Deputy Jacob Steely was pronounced brain dead at Enloe Hospital in Chico on Thursday after several days in critical condition in the intensive care unit. He and his 11-year-old son were both swept into the water by a rogue wave. The son was rescued, treated and released from an area hospital.

Mendocino volunteer firefighters received a call Monday that two people had fallen into the ocean in a rocky area near Mendocino Point. There is no beach and there was no way for them to get out of the water on their own.

The deputy had been floating face down in the water for about 10 or 15 minutes before rescuers reached him.

His organs will be donated later this week.

Bruce's Corner: Better late than never for one Florida woman.

Eleanor Bessin of Florida is 101, but she'll get another shot at attending prom. Seems she went to prom way back in the day with the man she was going to marry. But he had to go serve in World War 2 and when he got back he got cancer and died. But now, students at Terra High School are setting up a dance for 75 seniors at Palace Nursing and Rehab, the nursing home where Bessin now lives. Nursing Staff will reportedly vote for a prom king and queen for the Thursday event. One resident who's 86 says she was never invited to her high school prom but will now get the chance to attend. 

Step Forward On DUI Crackdown Measure

 A measure to crack down on drivers under the influence of drugs took a step forward this week. State Senator Bob Huff's measure SB 1462 was passed by the Senate Public Safety Committee and now moves onto votes in both houses of the Legislature. One speaker in support of the bill was Gail Randall, whose 21-year-old son Harrison died after being hit by a drugged driver in Carmichael.

 

 

 

 

SB 1462 would allow law enforcement to use oral swab roadside tests to detect drugged drivers when there's probable cause to believe a driver has already failed other sobriety tests.

Irish Teen Admits To Making Phony Threats To Chico High School

19-year-old Ben Megarry of Newtownabbey in Northern Ireland has been charged with making 23 hoax threats at various U.S. schools, airports, and other locations in 2012. BBC News reported Wednesday that Megarry pleaded guilty to 14 of those charges.

 

On April 1st of 2012 Chico Police received phone call about a bomb at Chico High School. Police say this was days after a gun threat was called into the high school. During that incident the school was put on lockdown for 3 hours. In 2013 The Chico Police Department was contacted by police from Northern Ireland requesting evidence into those gun threats.   

 

Inmate Escapes Modoc County Jail, Nabbed After Car Chase

 30-year-old Joshua Helgeson was discovered missing around 5:30 Thursday morning. The Jail was put on lockdown while deputies looked for him. Authorities learned that Helgeson had left the prison and allegedly got access to a vehicle. Officers reported seeing him driving in Alturas and attempted to pull him over. Helgeson reportedly took off and lead the officers on a chase with speeds up to 100 miles per hour. He allegedly went back into Modoc County where he exited the car and fled on foot, but officers were able to nab him.  

 

Chico Man Sentenced In Fatal Wrong Way DUI Case

65-year-old Richard Wilson was sentenced Thursday to 12 years and eight months in state prison.

In January of 2015 Wilson had been driving his vehicle westbound in the eastbound lanes on the Skyway near Paradise when he collided head-on with another vehicle. A woman from Chico was killed and a man from Paradise was severely injured in the collision.

 

According to the Butte County DA's Office, Wilson had been convicted of DUI seven times prior to the incident and had been driving on a suspended license at the time of the collision.   

Las Plumas Teacher Pleads Guilty To Statutory Rape

A Las Plumas High Teacher is back in court June 15th on charges of having sexual relations with two students. 33-year-old Lindsay Himmelspach reportedly pled guilty Wednesday to two counts of statutory rape after charged with having inappropriate relations with at least two male students. One was from Las Plumas High and the other from Prospect High. She could face up to 3 years and 8 months in state prison for the charges. 

 

Proposed Changes To The Esplanade Now Up In The Air

Chico City Council member Randall Stone notified City Manager Mark Orme on Tuesday of his decision to rescind his vote for installing two roundabouts on The Esplanade. The council voted 4 to 3, last week, for the roundabouts and other changes to the street however this brought about public outcry against the idea of roundabouts. At Tuesday night's meeting the council voted unanimously to reconsider the decision at a future meeting.    

 

First Draft Of Budget Presented To Chico City Council

The council reviewed the 2016-2017 budget at Tuesday night's meeting. Proposals include one for the transfer 4 million dollars from the general fund to the airport, city facilities, and private development. According to the draft budget, the city will have a growth of almost 3 percent for next year.    

 

Red Bluff Woman Guilty Of Felony Child Abuse

Sherry Atkinson of Red Bluff was found guilty of felony child abuse and will be spending the next six years in prison.

 

In February of 2015 Atkinson called authorities and said she couldn't find her 14-month-old daughter. When police arrived they found her daughter dead under a pile of clothes, and Atkinson’s in deplorable condition. A coroner’s report showed that the infant suffered from neglect and died from suffocation from being under the pile of clothes.

 

Some Chico Residents Are Not Happy About Possible Changes To The Esplanade

Some Chico residents are not happy after a plan was approved by the city council that would make changes to The Esplanade. The council voted 4 to 3 to have two roundabouts placed at Memorial Way and First Avenue intersections. Some residents believe that the roundabouts will destroy the historical nature of the street. A group called 'Save the Esplanade' is collecting voter signatures for a referendum. If there are at least 45 hundred registered voter signatures within 30 days the referendum can be verified and the council can either act to overturn their decision or let citizens vote on the plan.   

 

Two Arrested In Drive By Shooting In Oroville

Authorities came out the 24 hundred block of D Street after a report of a drive by shooting around 6:30 am Sunday. Witnesses reported that one of the shots struck a house. Three people were reportedly inside the home but no one was harmed. A white Volkswagen Jetta was allegedly seen in the area during the shooting. That Jetta was found at a residence on Oro Bangor Highway. A 16-year-old was reportedly found in the car and was taken into custody. The driver, identified as 18-year-old Antonio Rodriguez came out of the residence and was arrested. Deputies searched the house and allegedly found a handgun and keys to the car.

 

Chico Police Community Advisory Board To Hold Meeting

 The meeting will take place in room 220 of the Bell Memorial Union on the Chico State campus from 5:30 to 6:30 pm Wednesday. Topics will include Chico PD's 2015 Annual Report and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Chico Police Department and CSUC's Police Department. Input from Citizens and neighbors are encouraged. 

 

Police Investigating Stabbing In Downtown Chico

Officers arrived at City Lot 1 in the area of Wall Street and East 2nd Street around 1:30 am Sunday and found a man who had allegedly been stabbed multiple times. The victim suffered serious injuries and could not speak with police. The unidentified victim was taken to the hospital where he is now listed in stable condition. According to police, no witnesses could be found and the motive behind the stabbing remains unknown. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chico Police Department.  

 

Butte County Is Hoping You Can Help Resolve A Million Dollar Problem

The county spends almost 18 million dollars a year on fire protection, but its General Fund is only about 17 million. So it's asking residents to take an online survey to weigh in on what they'd like to see. The county's contract with Cal Fire has been a financial problem for years, but now something must be done. County Administrator Paul Hahn says the county is looking at several options.

 

 

He says plans are to continue the contract with Cal Fire for another year, but after that the county must make a change. One of the main problems is the county has no say in cost increases that come from the state. The online survey takes about 5 minutes and is available through buttecounty.net.

Man Arrested After Investigation Into Explosive Device In Glenn County

Willows firefighters were called out to a brush fire reportedly caused by an explosive device on County Road 53 Thursday afternoon. Investigators found evidence that lead them to East Ash Street in Willows on Friday where they served a search warrant and found several items that were sent to a crime lab. The resident, 33-year-old Curtis Wooldridge was arrested for multiple charges related to the manufacturing and transportation of explosive devices. 

 

Violent Sex Offender Possibly To Be Relocated To Butte County

Butte County Officials have received notice from the California Department of State Hospitals that they are seeking to house Fraisure Smith in Chico. Smith has been convicted as a sexually violent predator that had been committed to a hospital in Solano County Smith couldn't be place into a residence in Solano County due to public outcry.

 

Sheriff Kory Honea and Butte County DA Mike Ramsey will attend a hearing in Solano County in May to make their objection to the placement of Smith in Butte County.  

 

Oroville PD Investigating Drive By Shooting

Police are searching for the suspects of a drive by shooting that took place in South Oroville late Wednesday night. Witnesses say an unknown person in a white SUV fired shots into Piggs Liquor on the 3000 block of Myers Street around 10pm. The intended targets of the shots were believed to be three people walking outside the store. One victim was taken to Oroville Hospital with minor injuries, while another was believed to have suffered injuries but has not been located. Anyone with information is urged to call the Oroville Police Department.

Butte County Deputies Make Arrest During Vehicle Theft Investigation

The deputies went to Moonlight Court near the Chico Airport around 11:30 am Thursday while following up on a stolen vehicle case from the day before when they spotted a stolen Toyota truck parked at a residence. The deputies obtained a search warrant for the residence where they reportedly found and detained 42-year-old Derek King. Deputies searched the residence and allegedly found items from multiple thefts from the Chico area. They also reportedly found a large amount of butane honey oil and multiple fire arms.

King was arrested and booked into the Butte County Jail.   

Oroville Man Charged With Murder Deemed Fit To Stand Trial

Duarte Gonsalves was declared mentally competent on Wednesday to stand trial for the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Paul Bryant. The shooting took place back in July on Lincoln Boulevard. Gonsalves has plead not guilty to one count of murder, one count of a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of being in possession of a short barreled shotgun. According to the DA's Office, due to the work load of the defendant's attorney the trial will not start until September.  

 

Woman Arrested For DUI Rolling Car With Children Inside

Redding Police found a Toyota Prius rolled over off of Highway 273 near Branstetter Lane around 1 pm Wednesday. The driver, 28-year-old Courtney Cain and her two young children were found inside. According to police, the children only suffered minor injuries because they were properly placed into their car seats. Cain suffered minor injuries as well, but police believed that she was under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for that and for child endangerment.   

 

Young Woman Reported Missing In Chico Has Been Found

 

The young woman reported missing in Chico has been found and is reportedly NOT the victim of foul play. Chico Police say they located Paige Vogel about 10:30 Wednesday morning along East Avenue near Mariposa. Initial reports had her possibly abducted in a black van and held against her will. Vogel reportedly said she'd not spoken to her family in four days and is unsure how anyone came to the conclusion she was in danger. Meanwhile, the investigation into the incident continues.

 

Butte County Firefighter Given Medal Of Valor

Cal Fire Battalion Chief John Messina was awarded the Governor's Medal of Valor Award at a ceremony that took place Tuesday in Sacramento.

 

Messina was off duty in December of 2014 when he learned that there were people trapped in a vehicle that was submerged in water near the main channel of Honcut Creek. He was nearby and went to the scene and spotted three adults and a child on top of the roof of the submerged vehicle. The car then began to be swept downstream. Messina jumped into the swift moving water reportedly without a life vest or regard for his own safety to rescue trapped people.    

Butte County Supervisors Give Up Nord Right Of Way Roads

Supervisors unanimously agreed at Tuesday's meeting to abandon two road sections on Sacramento, Folsom, and Washington streets in the community of Nord. The county reportedly never accepted the road sections and didn't maintain them either. Residents of the area were reportedly pleased with the vote.

 

Bruce's Corner: A handwriting study finds clues on when biblical texts were written.

The new findings come after a team of Israeli mathematicians and archaeologists performed computerized handwriting analysis on some ancient texts, analysis similar to what intelligence agencies and banks do. They found some key biblical texts were composed BEFORE the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, much earlier than previously thought. A review of some ancient inscriptions revealed there could've been six different authors, meaning more people than suspected could read and write in ancient Judea. And that means there was probably a good educational system at the time, good enough to make everyone from commanders to foot soldiers literate. The findings also show there was enough literacy to write and compile large chunks of the Old Testament during this period--again, much earlier than previously thought.

 

Butte College Board Approves New President

You can take the "interim" part  of the title away from Butte College's new President. Dr. Samia Yaqub has been named Superintendent and President of Butte College. She was the interim after the departure of former President Kimberley Perry. She will be permanently installed on July First after being approved by the Board Wednesday. She has reportedly been at Butte College for more than 30 years.

 

Skilled Trades Employees And Butte County Come To Agreement

Supervisors approved a memorandum of understanding with the Skilled Trades Union at Tuesday's board meeting. Beginning later this month there will be a 2 percent pay increase and an 81 dollar a month increase in the county's contribution to health care premiums. The union and employees said yes to the one year agreement so they could get back to negotiations as soon as possible even though the agreement fell short of the 5 percent pay raise that they originally wanted.      

 

Chico Police Investigating Possible Foul Play In Missing Person's Case

On Tuesday morning authorities were contacted by family members of Paige Vogel, who believe that she could be the victim of foul play. They believe that she is possibly being held against her will and that a black unmarked van was reportedly involved in her abduction. According to authorities, the whereabouts of Vogel, who is reportedly homeless, are unknown at this time and they are reporting her as a missing person.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chico Police Department at 530-895-491.

 

Butte County Wants Your Input On Firefighting Operations

A news release says the county doesn't have much local spending control in its ongoing agreement with Cal Fire and wants to hear from you about any possible options. Last year's budget hearings had staff looking for ways to minimize firefighting costs on the county General Fund, and as part of that process county officials want to hear from you with your ideas.

 

There's an online survey residents can take to weigh in. It can be accessed through www.buttecounty.net.

 

The Beat Goes On For Chico Band Trying To Break A Guinness World Record

The hope is to break the record for the longest concert by multiple artists. Band members began April First and are playing around the clock at Down Lo in downtown Chico for 17 days in hopes of breaking the record. They reportedly hoped to break the record last year but attempts failed--so they're at it again.

 

There's also talk that the organizer wants for the idea to spread--so next year on April First dozens of bands around the country will start a concert at the same time on April First. 

 

Structures On Bangor Property Damaged In Fire

The blaze started in a cottage near the garage after 2:30 Tuesday afternoon. The fire spread to the garage and then to the attic of the main home. The garage was reportedly fully engulfed when Cal Fire crews arrived. This prompted several more firefighting units to arrive to help with the effort. Fire crews were able to contain the fire to the attic and there was only minor damage to the home. The cottage and the garage unit however, sustained heavy damage.

According to authorities, the owner of the home was taken to the hospital for minor smoke inhalation.   

Shasta County Most Wanted Suspect Caught After Traffic Stop In Anderson

Officers preformed the traffic stop on 37-year-old Jacob Taylor on Highway 273 near Spring Gulch Road after 12 am earlier Tuesday morning. Taylor had an active felony warrant for his arrest on charges of carjacking, grand theft auto, and burglary. 

 

According to police, Taylor allegedly used his brother's name in order to trick officers. However, officers spotted Taylor's tattoos which matched his description and he was arrested.

 

Plans Underway To Buy Cal Water of Oroville As Water Rates Rise

Cal Water has plans to raise water rates in Oroville 18 percent next year. That would be almost double what Chico customers have to pay. Oroville already pays the highest rates in the county. Oroville officials want to take over a portion of Cal Water for 10 million dollars and turn it into a public utility. Cal Water says they are not selling and that city officials underestimated the cost of that portion. The city is reportedly considering legal action against Cal Water.        

 

Fatal Shooting In Yuba County Leads To Arrests

The incident reportedly happened around 5 Sunday Evening at a residence in Olivehurst when two Olivehurst men were to sell marijuana to a Citrus Heights man. The man from Citrus Heights, 28-year-old Kenneth Smith, was shot and killed in what authorities are calling a drug deal gone wrong. They arrested 22-year-old Daniel Peters and 44-year-old Randall Orway, both of Olivehurst, for marijuana sales and manufacturing honey oil. Orway has since been released. More charges may come after authorities have processed the scene and reviewed autopsy results. Authorities are also reportedly searching for a man who fled the scene in gold Hyundai. 

 

Truck Hit By Train In Chico

A truck struck by a train this morning was allegedly a getaway vehicle for a suspected Chico burglar. The collision happened at McIntosh and Diamond Avenue around 2 am this morning after the truck had gotten stuck on the tracks. Authorities say the pickup was filled with tools and two portable generators that had allegedly been stolen from a nearby Union Pacific yard. The suspect reportedly fled the area. According to the CHP, the train was stopped for about 2 hours.  

 

Homeless Symposium Scheduled For Friday In Oroville

 The symposium will feature organizations and government agencies from throughout Butte County. The agencies and organizations will talk about programs and services that they offer the homeless in Butte County. The public is encouraged to ask questions and offer feedback. The Homeless Symposium will be from 9 am to noon on Friday at the Southside Oroville Community Center 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road.     

 

Body Pulled From Butte County Canal ID'd

20-year-old Alejandro Ramirez of Oroville is the man whose body was pulled from a canal near the Thermalito Afterbay Saturday afternoon. Authorities say Ramirez drove his BMW 750 at a high rate of speed into the canal after crashing through a fence off Grand Avenue.

 

A maintenance worker with the Department of Water Resources noticed the fence damage and vehicle parts in the canal Friday afternoon and called for help. The sheriff's Dive Team retrieved the vehicle, and Ramirez was found dead inside.

 

Paradise Resident Stops Burglary Attempt By Chico Teens

The attempted burglary happened at a home on Westchester Way in Paradise before 7:30 am Monday. The resident of the home reportedly interrupted the burglary and the 14 and 17-years-old teen suspects fled from the home leaving behind a car allegedly stolen in Chico.

 

Officers caught up to the teens on Lucky John Road. The 14-year-old had an allegedly stolen, loaded revolver and the 17-year-old had a dagger in his possession. The two suspects were arrested for various burglary and weapons charges. 

 

Weekend SAFE Check Leads To 12 Arrests

A weekend sex offender check in Shasta County leads to arrests for parole violation, among other charges. Shasta County Sheriffs conducted a SAFE (Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement) operation.

 

The aim was to make sure people convicted of sex offenses were at the proper address and were in compliance with their terms of parole. One person was arrested for violating his parole, while authorities apprehended 11 others for various charges such as possession of a controlled substance. 

 

Butte Supervisors Looking At How To Handle Crimes Committed By The Mentally Ill

A measure known as Laura's Law comes before Butte Supervisors Tuesday. It came from nearby Nevada County, after Laura Wilcox was killed in 2001 by a person suffering from mental illness. County Administrative Officer Paul Hahn says the item will be up for discussion to see if a similar measure is needed in Butte County.

 

 

The measure allows for counties to implement court ordered outpatient mental health treatment for certain individuals who have a serious mental disorder.

A Car And A Body Found In Butte County Canal

 Workers at the Department of Water Resources reported to authorities seeing car parts floating in a canal of the Thermalito Afterbay around 2 Saturday afternoon. Deputies discovered that vehicle had crashed through a fence and down a 50 foot embankment into the canal near Grand Avenue. According to authorites, the car was found on its roof at the bottom of the canal. A body of a man was reportedly found inside the car.

 

Search Continues For Attempted Murder Suspect

The search continues for an attempted murder suspect after an almost 9 hour standoff in Corning Thursday. The standoff began about 4 Thursday afternoon at a house on Toomes Avenue. Authorities were told that there were two men in the home, 22-year-old Christian Macedo and 25-year-old Ceasar Macedo, both of whom had active warrants our for their arrest. They found Cesar Macedo and 28-year-old Angelina Castenada, both with stab wounds. Also detained was 48 year old Denise Jones of Corning, but she was let go. The SWAT Team went into the home but couldn't find Christian Macedo. Police say that Macedo is considered armed and dangerous.

 

Paradise Police Searching For Armed Robbery Suspect

A man allegedly entered through the backdoor of the O'Reilly Auto Parts on 73 hundred block of the Skyway in Paradise after 9 pm Friday. The man who was reportedly dressed in black, wearing a paintball mask and armed with a gun demanded money from the employees. One of the employees gave the suspect some cash. The suspect then reportedly had the employees go into the bathroom. Once the suspect left they got out and called police. The case is currently under investigation.      

 

Deputies Arrest Suspected Burglar At Burney Residence

66-year-old Cynthia White called the Shasta County Sheriff's Office after she allegedly heard someone in her house on Bue Way around 5 am Saturday. She reportedly locked herself in her room while she waited for deputies. When the deputies arrived they found 28-year-old Derek Shephard in one of the bedrooms allegedly armed with a knife. According to deputies, Shephard was arrested after a brief struggle.  

 

Authorities Looking Into Palermo Shooting

Authorities are looking into a shooting incident in Palermo over the weekend. Someone reported that the victim allegedly accidently shot himself in the head on Dustin Lane around 9 pm Saturday. The unidentified 30-year-old victim was air lifted to Enloe Medical Center and is said to be recovering. No arrests have been made and authorities are investigating the incident.   

 

Officials Say Best Way To Stretch California's Water Supply Is Through Conservation

 

Later this month Californians will likely see another round of water conservation measures. The State Water Commission is expected to continue the restrictions, but impose softer rules after a relatively wet winter. Doug Carlson with the Department of Water Resources says while water officials look at new storage and de-salination to increase water supply, they'll still stress conservation.

 

 

He concedes the conservation rules will probably be loosened, because the state saved some 1 point 2 million acre feet of water last year. That's enough for more than a million families of five. But he and other water officials are adamant that though El Nino helped this winter, it didn't completely offset the ongoing drought. 

Tentative Agreement Between University Officials And Faculty

A tentative agreement has been reached between Cal State officials and the union that represents faculty members. The move could halt a strike that was scheduled next week and the week after, a strike that would also affect Chico State University. Faculty and Cal State officials said Thursday that details of the preliminary deal would not be disclosed until today. Faculty has been seeking a 5 percent salary increase for its 26 thousand members, while Cal State officials have been offering 2 percent.

 

Chico Man Charged With Murder Gives His Plea In Court

50-year-old Christopher Swilhart was in Butte County Superior Court on Thursday and changed his original plea from not guilty by reason of insanity to a plea of no contest to second-degree murder in the death of 55-year-old Cass Edison.

 

Investigators arrived at a home on Rose Avenue in Chico in March of 2015 after a body of a woman had been discovered. Investigators linked Swilhart to the alleged murder. He later turned himself in at Fall River Mills.

Swilhart's sentencing is set for May 12th. If convicted he faces 17 years-to-life in prison.   

 

Chico Police Seeking To Improve Safety Along A City Owned Bike Path

The path runs between the railroad tracks and the Chico State campus. The project is a collaboration between the Chico Police Department and Chico State to install safety cameras along the bike path.

In February the City Council approved the project to go forward with funding being provided by donations. According to Chico PD, a number of Chico businesses and organizations have given to support it. A public meeting that discussed the project reportedly received unanimously support from the residents in the area.

Two Women Arrested After Leading Authorities On Chase

Paradise police attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation earlier this morning. The driver allegedly refused to stop leading officers on a chase. The vehicle continued onto Highway 70 where Butte County deputies took over the pursuit. The vehicle was disabled by a spike strip at Cottonwood Road and Highway 99. Deputies searched the vehicle and found drug paraphernalia and property that had allegedly been stolen in Chico. The driver, 37-year-old Rosa Valdez and her passenger, 27-year-old Ashley Sisson were arrested and booked into the Butte County Jail. 

 

Suspect Still On The Loose After 8 Hour Standoff

A standoff at a home in Corning lasts more than eight hours, but no suspects were found inside. The standoff began sometime after 4 pm and ended early this morning at a house on Toomes Avenue. Authorities came out the house and reportedly heard noises coming from the attic. They entered the home and found two women and a man. The man and one of the women reportedly had stab wounds and were taken to the hospital. Law enforcement was reportedly told that the suspect was still in the attic. The SWAT Team arrived and used Gas canisters, but no one came out. Agents eventually entered the home, but no one was reportedly found.    

 

Two Oroville Teens In Hospital After Taking Pills

The two Las Plumas High School students had reportedly received the pills from a 14-year-old student around 8 am Thursday. Detectives learned that the student that allegedly supplied the drugs got the pills from an unidentified suspect at the Oroville Skate Park.

 

It is unknown what kinds of pills were distributed, but authorities believe they could have been some type of anti-depressant.

 

The two students who allegedly took the pills are expected to make a full recovery. No arrests have been made at this time.  

 

Motorcyclist Rescued From Feather River Canyon

Charles Ross of Biggs was reportedly riding with other motorcyclists when he lost control of his motorcycle on a curve on Highway 70 Wednesday morning. Ross and his motorcycle crashed about 20 feet down an embankment. According to the CHP, rescue crews used a rope and pulley system with a basket attached to get Ross back up to safely. Ross was air lifted to Enloe Medical Center for a broken leg and other injuries.     

 

Officials Says Airman And Commander Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide

 

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A senior U.S. official says an airman shot his commander in an apparent murder-suicide at a U.S. Air Force base in San Antonio.

 

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to publicly discuss Friday's shooting at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

 

Brig. Gen. Robert LaBrutta, who oversees Joint Base San Antonio, says two handguns were found near the bodies of the men.

 

LaBrutta stressed that the shooting was not an act of terrorism.

 

He declined to identify the two, saying their families must be notified first. The FBI is assisting in the investigation into the shooting.

 

Chico Police Plan Bike Patrols

Starting in June officers on bicycles will be out patroling Bidwell Park and downtown Chico. Plans are to also have police patrol the city owned bike path that runs between the railroad tracks and Chico State. There will also be a camera system installed on the Big Chico Creek path that runs to West Sacramento Avenue. 

Drugged Drivers May Face Tougher Penalties

The growing problem of drivers under the influence of drugs is the focus of a measure by a state lawmaker. State Senator Bob Huff, a Republican from San Dimas, says the number of drivers with the presence of drugs in their system has been dramatically increasing.

 

 

Huff says the state has worked to curtail drinking drivers, but drivers using drugs is still a problem. He says his SB 1462 would allow law enforcement to use oral fluid drug screening tests when there's probable cause that a driver is impaired and has failed field sobriety tests.

Prescribed Burns Begun On North State National Forest Lands

200 acres will be burned in an area north of Highway 89 east of McCloud. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the burn started Wednesday and will continue today.

 

Starting today about 12 hundred acres on Green Mountain near Shasta Lake will be burned to remove ground fuels. The burn will reportedly last two days and will total 65 hundred acres.  

 

Defendant In DUI Case Has Died

Butte County DA Mike Ramsey announced Wednesday that 20-year-old Diego Arriaga-Rodriguez died Tuesday at a Bay Area hospital from his injuries suffered in a collision back in 2014.

 

Arriaga-Rodriguez was charged with driving under the influence resulting in the deaths of 19-year-old Bryant Mata and 21-year-old Austin Silver.

 

Arriaga-Rodriguez was allegedly driving his car on Bidwell Avenue in Chico after 12:30 am on January 26, 2014 when he lost control of his vehicle and it landed upside down in Big Chico Creek. All three were trapped inside and underwater. Silver was pronounced dead at the scene and Mata later died at the hospital.  

Man Sentenced To 13 Years For Arson, Attempted Murder

Prosecutors say revenge was the motive for a man who was sentenced to 13 years Wednesday for arson and attempted murder of a child. 59-year-old William Brainard was reportedly already found guilty of arson but the jury could not find him guilty on the attempted murder charge. A retrial led Brainard to enter a plea of no contest. Prosecutors say Brainard and his ex wife were in a custody dispute so he burned the house and almost ignited a device outside the child's bedroom hut it didn't go off. The incident happened in the early morning of February 18, 2015 on Losse Way in Chico. Brainard's sentence reportedly started Wednesday.

 

Two People Murdered In Hayfork ID'd

The two people killed in Hayfork Monday night have been identified as 41-year-old James Jachna and 21-year- old Amanda Patton. 40-year-old Jason Brady was arrested shortly after the alleged murder. He reportedly admitted to Sheriff's Deputies that he was the killer. The incident happened about 11:30 Sunday night at a home on Carter Gulch Road in Hayfork. Investigators say details and a motive are not being released at this due to the ongoing investigation.

 

Man Arrested For DUI After Nearly Injuring Diners

Chico Police arrest a man on suspicion of driving under the influence after an incident at a Chico restaurant Tuesday night. 23-year-old Jordan Jiang was caught on video driving his blue pickup truck the wrong way down a one way street. He then turned into Indy's Restaurant on West 8th and backed repeatedly into a table where George Grieger was sitting with his son. No one was hurt but Jiang was arrested. 

 

Bruce's Corner: Two fans crash the Yankees party.

Two fans wore Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles outfits to New York's Yankee Stadium Tuesday to the thousand dollar Legends Section behind home plate. They payed 25 cents for those thousand dollar seats. They were following directions from comedian John Oliver who bought several tickets with only one order--dress like "riff raff". So they did. Oliver was angry with the comments of the Yankee Chief Operating Officer who said in February that fans who pay full fare for their seats don't like sitting with some who don't pay that amount, a clear shot at groups like Stub Hub, who offer cheaper ticket prices. So Oliver bought up the expensive tickets that were available for 25 cents. One irreverent fan John Welch says other fans actually started laughing and enjoyed them. He said he kept thinking about Washington National's Superstar Bryce Harper who sports a hat saying Make Baseball Fun Again. Mission Accomplished.

More Numbers Out On Lake Oroville's Rising Water Levels

Since the low lake level of about 650 feet in December of 2015 the lake has risen more than 218 feet. The lake rose 99 feet in March adding more than a million acre-feet of water. The current lake level is at 868 feet which is 114 percent of its historic average level. According to Forever Resorts which operates the Bidwell Canyon Marina, the current snow pack is helping the lake to continue to rise and should soon reach the 900 foot mark making it as they say a "full pool".   

 

Vehicle Collision Leaves Driver Trapped Inside

A car collided with a tree in the west bound lane on the Skyway near Lookout Point just before 3:30 am Wednesday. The vehicle reportedly rolled over and ended up in the center divider. According to the CHP, the car was mangled and the driver was trapped inside. Fire crews arrived with extraction equipment and were able to pull the driver out. The victim was taken to the hospital with major injuries.    

 

City Council Hears Proposed Improvements To The Esplanade

A decision was not made on the Esplanade Corridor Study at Tuesday night's meeting and it was decided to bring it up again at a special meeting.

 

The study analyzed traffic and safety issues on The Esplanade. Some of the options in the proposal were the creation of a two way bike path on the old railroad right of way and a roundabout at Memorial Way.        

Community Policing Main Topic Of Chico Safety Meeting

Police officials along with business leaders and community members from around the area of Mangrove, Vallombrosa, and Lower Bidwell Park attended the Community Safety Meeting at the CARD Center Tuesday. It was announced that crime has gone down in the area about 24 percent so far this year. Officials say it was largely due to community policing.  

 

Fire Cews Contain Wildland Fire In Bangor

The blaze started on the 200 block of Diablo View Drive around 3:30 Tuesday afternoon. Cal Fire crews were able to contain the flames to two acres by 5 pm. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

 

California Misses Water Conservation Target

 

FRESNO, California (AP) — Officials say residents of drought-plagued California fell just short of the state's mandated water conservation target in February.

 

Officials said Monday that Californians used nearly 24 percent less water in the month, missing the 25 percent water cuts ordered last year for urban users by Gov. Jerry Brown.

 

Felicia Marcus, chair of the state water board, says Californians did a good job saving water, despite coming up short of the goal.

 

California is now in the fifth year of drought, even though an El Nino weather system delivered a near-average year of rain and snow.

 

Officials say that might impact the conservation order that has led to shorter showers and brown lawns in parts of the state.

 
Here in the North State Chico's water savings was at 25 percent compared to the target of 32 percent for the month of February. Del Oro Water Company came the closest to its target with over 23 percent compared to 24 percent. Paradise saved only 15 percent compared to its 36 percent target.     

 

Police Investigate Shooting Near Oroville School

Officers arrived at the 28 hundred block of Florence Avenue near Central Middle School just before midnight Sunday and found several spent shell casings in the street. Officers learned that the gunfire came from a vehicle the left before they arrived. No clear description of the vehicle has been established. No injuries were reported in the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oroville Police Department.    

 

Man Reportedly Pulls Gun On Group In Redding

A man was allegedly seen breaking into a car parked near the Market Street Steakhouse after 7 pm Monday. A group of men confronted the suspect and he reportedly pulled a handgun on them. The men backed away and the suspect fled the area. Officers found the man at Liberty Park. According to police, the victim's wallet was allegedly found in the suspect's pocket along with the handgun which was loaded. Officers learned that the gun had been reported stolen and the unidentified suspect was arrested.    

 

Lake Oroville Water Levels Continue To Rise

The lake is now about 870 feet and is at 90 percent of capacity. The runoff from the snowpack is helping to raise lake levels at around a foot a day over the last week. Engineers are still releasing water from the spillway due to flooding concerns. 

 

Initial Water Allocations Look Good For Norcal, Not So Good For The South

Northern Californians were in the right place at the right time when it came to water this year. Federal Officials say location and timing were in the North's favor in light of the winter rainfall. The Bureau of Reclamation announced Friday water contractors north of the Delta will get 100 percent of their water supply this year, but some contractors will only get 5 percent. Shane West is with the Bureau and says allocations were based on where the rain fell.

 

 

Those in the San Joaquin area were especially hard hit. West says much of their water needed to be pumped during the fall months, when conditions were dry. These are FEDERAL guidelines for water in Shasta Lake and the Sacramento River. STATE water is stored in places like Lake Oroville.

 

Couple Arrested After Leading Redding Officers On Second Car Chase

Officers reportedly spotted 28-year-old Khampsong Phaviseth, Wednesday driving a Lexus near Churn Creek Road, he had allegedly lead police on a chase back on March 23rd, but he got away. Officers attempted to make a traffic stop, but Phaviseth reportedly failed to stop and lead police on yet another chase. Phaviseth allegedly crashed into a parking block. He and his passenger 23-year-old Veronica Zalles then fled on foot. Zalles was quickly caught and arrested. Phaviseth was allegely found in a nearby home hidding in a bedroom closet.    
 

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