By Denise Yergenson

For those who travel California State Route 44 in and out of Redding, the changes to the route may seem like a routine event. For those who only travel the route once in a while, the changes are dramatic.

When most people envisioned the “new” three-lane project over the Sacramento River and new access from Hilltop and Dana drives, they thought small. Little did they know the magnitude of this amazing project!

The north side of the Sacramento River bridge has just about been demolished, and motorists are travelling on the center portion, which until just a few months ago, didn’t exist. The contractor has filled in the center portion of the bridge, making a temporary structure for vehicles to travel on while new bridges are constructed. Once the north side is complete, workers will begin demolishing the south side to create room for new lanes on that side of the structure. When complete, traffic will be directed to the newly built north and south bridges, and work will start on the middle portion.

Residents and travelers will also notice the changes to the area of the southbound Interstate 5 exit to westbound SR 44. Major earthwork will create new lanes for motorists entering SR 44 from the north and from the newly created Hilltop/Dana ramp and southbound from I-5. Once complete, motorists will have a much smoother transition from I-5 and the eastside of Redding to the downtown.

Other changes are evident at the Auditorium Drive overcrossing. One most notable change at this stage is the renaming of the roadway to Sundial Bridge Drive. New signs have been placed on I-5, more easily directing visitors to the Turtle Bay Exploration Park and the Sundial Bridge.

The entire over-crossing will be replaced with a new structure immediately to the east of the existing one. It will be a four-lane facility, allowing for much better access in and out of the Turtle Bay and Convention Center area. Earthwork and changes to that are also extensive.

Work continues on the Continental Street Bridge on SR 44 crossing over the street below. The structure is being widened to accommodate an auxiliary lane from downtown to the Sundial Bridge exit. In addition to the changes to the bridges, new retaining walls have been built along the back of the businesses on Butte Street.

Of course all these changes come with some challenges as well. Traffic speeds have been reduced throughout the project to keep the roadway safe for motorists as well as the construction crew. Noise levels have increased with large equipment working and the pile driving necessary to build the new bridge piers. Caltrans and contractor Golden State Bridge, have made every effort to conduct major work during the daytime hours and have kept lane closures to evening hours, keeping traffic backups minimal and the commute smooth.

Once complete, the Dana to Downtown project will be a major improvement to the Redding area, reducing traffic congestion, improving the travel and safety of motorists, providing better access to both sides of the river, enhancing the pedestrian and bicycle access and improving the aesthetics of the area.

As always, if you have questions or comments about the project, please don’t hesitate to email the Caltrans Public Information Office at Denise_yergenson@dot.ca.gov.

Denise Yergenson is the Public Information Officer for Caltrans District 2, P.O. Box 496073
Redding, CA 96049-6073, 30-225-3260.

By Mark Calkins

While reviewing a daily devotional I came across this information posted by “Cathedral of Hope”: On Dec. 12, 1912, U.S. Representative Seaborn Roddenberry of Georgia proposed a Constitutional Amendment that read, in part:

“Intermarriage between negroes or persons of color and Caucasians within the United States … is forever prohibited.”

This amendment failed to pass, although 90 percent of Americans at the time opposed inter-racial marriage. In 1958 the opposition was up to 96 percent. That year a Virginia judge explained the state law barring interracial marriages by saying, “Obviously Almighty God did not intend for the races to mix since each race was initially placed on a separate continent.”

The U.S. Supreme Court finally overturned those laws, but not until 1967.

Marriage, in its present historic form, has rightly been seen as a flawed and generally sexist institution. Many in the lesbian/gay community do not want to simply buy into an institution which has historically been based more on property rights than love.

It is no accident that the pastor or priest traditionally asks, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” Women were historically regarded as the property of men to be given and received. The whole idea behind a dowry was that a father paid a man to take his daughter off his hands. It is little wonder we want no part of that system.

So why do gay and lesbians need the state’s approval?

Well, in this country there are over 1,100 civil protections afforded legally married couples that are not available to same-sex couples. Britney Spears, who got married for 24 hours as a joke, received all of those protections, yet gay or lesbian couples together for 24 years get none of them:

• Hospital Visitation: Heterosexually married couples are considered next-of-kin for the purpose of making medical decisions, or even hospital visitation. With my own eyes I have seen long-term partners excluded from their dying lovers’ hospital rooms because they were not legally family.

• Ultimate Decisions: The legal protection of marriage is the only way to insure we get to make ultimate decisions.

•Health Insurance: Many corporate or government employees are able to provide health insurance for their husband or wife, but same-sex couples don’t receive this benefit. Even if a company does provide domestic partner benefits, the same-sex partner is forced to pay income tax on the value of the insurance.

• Estate taxes: A married person automatically inherits all the property of his or her spouse without paying taxes. A gay or lesbian spouse must pay estate taxes as if they had received an inheritance from a stranger.

• Retirement Savings: A married person can roll a deceased spouse’s 401k funds into an IRA without paying taxes, but a lesbian or gay American who inherits his or her partner’s 401K can end up paying a tax liability as great as 70 percent of the money they spent their lives saving.

• Family Leave: Married workers are legally entitled to unpaid leave from their jobs to care for an ill spouse. Gay and lesbian workers have no such rights.

• Nursing Homes: Married couples have a legal right to live out their last days together in a nursing home. Lesbian and gay couples have no such protection at the end of their lives.

• Home Protection: Laws protect married seniors from being forced to sell their homes to pay for the cost of their partners nursing home care. Same-sex couples have no such protection. In addition, in Texas, even jointly owned homes have to go through the probate process if they are owned by same-gender couples.

• Pensions: After the death of an employee most pension plans pay survivor benefits, but they only pay a legally married spouse. The gay or lesbian partner of a life-long employee is left with nothing.

This list could go on, but I hope you see that this is an issue with significant implications.

I would remind you that these are civil rights that are being denied to American taxpayers. Regardless of how someone might feel about the religious issues surrounding marriage, this is a matter of discrimination. The only difference is that heterosexual couples walk out of church with about 1,100 government and civil rights and protections that the same-sex taxpayers don’t get.

That is discrimination and it has nothing to do with what the Bible says and doesn’t say about marriage. Using the Bible as an argument against marriage is troubling. Consider what the Bible says about marriage, Jesus says nothing of same-sex marriage. He does, however, speak of divorce and remarriage. Look at your Bible, Mark 10, and consider what evangelist Tony Campolo says: ” What do you do with divorced people who remarry? Do you accept them in church? I mean, while Jesus never speaks about gay marriage, he speaks very clearly about those who remarry after a divorce. I don’t know many churches that enforce a no-remarriage rule.”

Has the church said, “We have to be faithful to Scripture about marriage, except on the issue of divorce and remarriage?” Or do we extend grace? Because if we’re going to show grace toward people who are divorced and remarried, an area Jesus specifically called sin, then how do you not show grace to people in a sexual relationship that Jesus never mentions?

Jesus states in Matthew, “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery.”

Except for the most legalistic and fundamentalist, few Americans believe that divorce is sinful - unfortunate, even tragic, divorced heterosexuals are not treated as sinners, even though these are words appear in red in the gospels.

We interpret these words because the world is different than the one in which Jesus spoke. That is how it should be, but why is that different from same-sex couples asking for civil rights for their relationships?

The whole issue of same-gender marriage is about justice and fairness.

Vote NO on 8 and really protect marriage.

 Mark Calkins lives and works in Redding.

By Ginny Hibbard

All of us open and close a water faucet multiple times in a 24-hour period. Do we think about how the water comes to be running through our faucets? I doubt if many people think about it at all. It is such a “normal” thing.

There are several different ways we can get water for our use. The old way was taking a bucket to the stream, but we have improved over the years. Now, one way of solving is to draw water by pumping from an underground aquifer (well). Aquifers are underground rivers and lakes that are there below us, but we can’t see them. Another way to get water is from a stream or lake, which is called surface water.

The majority of people believe water is always a renewable resource. That assumption is not true. Water is not a renewable resource, unless we use no more than what falls from the sky as rain or snow and seeps into the underground lakes and rivers to replenish these aquifers. If we use more water than what falls from the sky, water becomes non-renewable. Think more about the word ‘more,’ as it is very telling.

What does that fact mean to we who open a faucet of one kind or another inside the household or irrigating the yard? What it means is we, the citizens, need to conserve. The federal government’s Environmental Protection Act (EPA) has rules and regulations for all of the states to oversee. The state is supposed to oversee both small and large water systems, so that they adhere to EPA rules and regulations. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to happen often enough, possibly in any state throughout the country. The systems all know what is lawful and what is not, therefore leaving them with no excuse that they didn’t know or understand.

The city of Redding Water Department must comply with those rules and regulations. The rules state the water systems are to have wells, surface water, surface storages, and even homes tested for quality on set schedules. There are tests for a variety of contaminants, including arsenic. These tests aren’t to be done when the city wants to do them, but when mandated.

Recently my area received one of those costly letters from the Water Department informing us of arsenic in our water. How do we know if a person is able to tolerate the amount of arsenic into their bodies without some kind of harm? Even the acceptable arsenic level allowed in the water today is lower than a few years ago. It is inexcusable for the city not to have completed mandatory testing on time or at all. Incompetence is inexcusable.

One of the regulations requires a conservation plan, including irrigation amount and schedules. Well, there isn’t one in Redding, unless the City has the plan hidden. I see irrigation systems being turned on for lawns sometimes three or four times a day. Some sidewalks have slimy, slick moss caused by overwatering and runoff. The ground is so saturated, it is as though one is walking on a water-soaked sponge!

When a Water Department employee came to my house a few years ago, I attempted to explain about the water not always being renewable resource. He kept saying it came from under the Sacramento River (aquifer) for the majority of the water system’s draw. When I was able to finally make him understand the danger of overuse and not having a water conservation plan — other than free brochures on saving water and shower restrictors — he said to shush as the city made money on the water and that paid his salary! Golly, gee, whiz!

Just think about how Shasta Dam looks today. It is so low this year many structures in the lakebed are showing that haven’t been visible for many years. Lack of water in Shasta Dam means less water is seeping back into the aquifers. Redding’s Water Department has no excuse for shoddy work, whether from lack of testing, proper testing or of a good, comprehensive conservation plan. The big question is why is it happening and how is it going to be rectified, and when?

Ginny Hibbard has Chuck’s Hats for Chemo, which she started in 2003 after her husband died from cancer. Crafters make and donate hats for their own communities’ cancer patients all over the world.

By Robert Rock

The Christianity most of us know has thrived for over 2000 years. But in the last 200 years, especially since the rise of scientific thought, many have come to question its most basic tenets, such as being the one and only true religion, belief in resurrection of the body, the virgin birth, and a second coming. Those so questioning have had to make hard choices between retaining their faith by ignoring their intellectual convictions, or, giving up their practice of Christianity in favor of other religions, or no religion. Yet many of those in between continue to search for new definitions of Christianity they can accept - a religion that offers them the freedom to think and believe at the same time.

One of the most effective present day efforts toward seeking a new Christianity is that of the Westar Institute in Santa Rosa, CA, which began its activities 23 years ago. Each year over 100 scholars from all over the world assemble there to present their latest findings, and to get feedback from their fellows, as well as from the lay public before publishing their results. Following is a copy of their mission statement.

“Westar Institute is a member-supported, non-profit research and educational institute dedicated to the advancement of religious literacy. Westar’s twofold mission is to foster collaborative research in religious studies and to communicate the results of the scholarship of religion to a broad, non-specialist public.

“Until a few years ago, essential knowledge about biblical and religious traditions was hidden in the windowless studies of universities and seminaries-away from the general public. Such research was considered too controversial or too complicated for lay persons to understand. Many scholars, fearing open conflict or even reprisal, talked only to one another. The churches often decided what information their constituents were ‘ready’ to hear.

“Through publications, educational programs, and research projects like the Jesus Seminar, Westar has opened up a new kind of conversation about religion. This is an honest, no-hold-barred exchange involving thousands of scholars, clergy and other individuals who have critical questions about the past, present and future of religion. Westar is not affiliated with any religious institution nor does it advocate a particular theological point of view.”

Probably the most significant findings of this Institute are the discoveries of Christian writings that precede the four gospels as we know them. These are found among the recently discovered manuscripts of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi texts. Such writings as the Gospel of Thomas describe a Christianity which precedes the concepts of the virgin birth, resurrection of the body and worship of Jesus. Because these writings occurred earlier than the better known gospels, they are considered to be closer to the time Jesus walked the earth, and therefore - theoretically - more accurate. For example, in contrast to the conventional Christian message, there is strong evidence that Jesus never considered himself a god, even though his powers of love and healing led others to regard him as one. These findings of Westar’s “Jesus Seminar” now total over 500 new books - far more information than can be adequately introduced here. (A listing of these books is maintained in Redding’s Pilgrim Congregational Church UCC.)

But because these new discoveries of Christian origins are so drastically different from orthodox beliefs, it is necessary to point out that they do not apply to everyone. There will always be those of us who need and prefer the time-tested message, and there will also always be those of us who need a new Christian message that frees us to worship and think and question and analyze, and one which does not conflict with the advent of scientific thought that was born out of the industrial and technological revolution of the last two hundred years.

My purpose in offering this information is to make it known to those who may have given up on conventional Christianity, the fact that continuing discoveries are occurring of new Christian findings that may speak with more vitality to their needs.

Pilgrim Congregational Church here in Redding is one of the places where you can explore both the new, and the traditional concepts of Christianity. Our address is 2850 Foothill Blvd., 243-3121.

Robert Rock is a Pilgrim Congregational Church layman.

The most recent bail-out bill news is overshadowing the start-up of a federal program to help homeowners renegotiate their loans. This information may be helpful to you, or somebody you know, so spread the word.

If you recall, the president signed a mortgage assistance package a while ago as part of the economic stimulus package. The program is called Hope for Homeownership, and began business Oct. 1, 2008. This will provide incentives for banks to provide a work-out for a loan rather than foreclose. For homeowners to qualify:

* Their mortgage must have originated on or before Jan. 1, 2008;
* Their mortgage debt-to-income must be at least 31 percent;
* They cannot afford their current loan;
* They did not intentionally miss mortgage payments; and
* They do not own second homes.

Features of FHA-insured loans under the new program include:

* 30-year, fixed rate mortgage;
* Maximum 90 percent loan-to-value ratio;
* No prepayment penalties;
* $550,440 maximum mortgage amount;
* Extinguishment of any subordinate liens; and
* New home appraisals from FHA-approved appraisers.

Take a look at the HUD website:
http://www.hud.gov/fha/home080730.cfm

Hopefully this information will help you or somebody you know. Beware of scammer “home retention” services that may play on similarities to the government program. Many are illegitimate. Here’s contact info:

1. Contact a local, HUD-approved housing counseling agency at HUD.gov;
2. Contact the HOPE NOW Alliance at (888) 995-HOPE; or
3. Call FHA at (800) CALL-FHA.

I hope this helps somebody!

Skip Murphy and his daughter Erin are Realtors with Coldwell Banker in Redding, helping people buy and sell real estate. Which occasionally means working with foreclosures.

http://www.redhothomes.info/Skipsblog/wordpress/

So, not allowing Freddie and Fannie to crater has some big national benefits. It also presents some possible big downsides. Most importantly, it may cost all of us many billions to keep them running (that’s billions with a B). Since our government runs a deficit, and no courageous politician is likely to propose taxation to pay for it, they will have to print those dollars. A thoughtful young Realtor raised his hand at our agent office staff meeting this week and asked, “Say, isn’t that just going to raise inflation, as in $10-a-gallon gas?” I suppose that is a distinct possibility, my young friend. At this meeting of real estate agents however, nobody offered a better answer. Inflation acts as a secret tax and will impact the poor and punish renters as well as property owners. Still, we as a nation spend billions of dollars on lots of things. Few of those expenditures have as big an impact on you, personally, than housing. In life there are always trade-offs, and nobody gets something for nothing.  We all hate the word tax, though, so let’s just not say it. Let’s just quietly agree the secret tax called inflation, levied to protect the mortgage machinery, might keep us from descending to Third World feudalism. That’s a good thing, right?

How did Freddie and Fannie fail? Fraud-Greed-Stupidity-Bad-Luck.

The mortgage crisis is abstract to most people, like it’s taking place at some high level, or just a factoid on a TV finance show. For me, personally, helping folks buy and sell property in and around Redding, things that affect Freddie and Fannie hit close to home. It’s harder now for legitimate buyers to get mortgages, and a lot of people are having their homes foreclosed. I think all this can be attributed to the things I believe are responsible, which I describe as the spectrum of Fraud-Greed-Stupidity-Bad-Luck.

Let’s look at foreclosures, since lately there have been a great many, and they impact everyone. Foreclosures are the local face of Freddie and Fannie’s failure right here, right now. As an agent I see many local foreclosures as a direct result of Fraud-Greed-Stupidity-Bad-Luck. If you arrange those circumstances along a spectrum from Fraud to Bad Luck, it becomes the classic bell-shaped curve. In the fat part of the curve are most foreclosures: a result of Greed and Stupidity on behalf of both lenders and buyers. There’s no shortage of Greed and Stupidity.

At either end of the spectrum, and occurring less frequently, are Fraud and Bad Luck. Greed and Stupidity are mundane and predictable. Fraud and Bad Luck are neither.

Being a Realtor in the current Redding real estate marketplace means dealing with many bank-owned homes, or homes that will soon be bank-owned.  In the jargon of the trade, the foreclosed properties are called REOs, for Real Estate Owned. I’d prefer not dealing with these, but given that the market is now about one-third foreclosures, well, sometimes that’s the job. It’s not easy being a repo-man for people’s houses, but it’s somewhat easier if you can detach yourself emotionally. I tell myself, “I didn’t cause this to happen. I’m just here to pick up the pieces.” I hope everyone just moves on, and we all have some dignity left at the end of the day. It doesn’t always work out that way.

Other parts of our state are experiencing many more REOs than we are. Vast swaths of valley towns to the south of us are mired in foreclosure. Often when there is so much money in play, it draws organized crime. It’s not hard to see how the larger mess might have come about: phantom buyers, over-inflated appraisals, kickback schemes. All predicated on easy credit. Actually, “easy credit” is a wild understatement. They were giving money away. Was there any reason to believe a gushing cash flow wouldn’t draw fraudsters? It was a classic bubble. Who was watching over Freddie and Fannie? Oops, nobody.

My most memorable direct experience with fraudulent homebuyers was in Red Bluff. I got a call to list a foreclosed property, a “charming cottage,” in agent-speak. To me it was a $100K bungalow on a floodplain, with a $300K view of Lassen. I was reluctant to take a Red Bluff listing because I can’t do a good job keeping an eye on things, so I partnered with a Realtor friend who lives in Tehama County and took it on. This house had been auctioned on the courthouse steps with no takers, and went back to the note holder, in this case Freddie Mac (yes, your money, i.e., YOU. See the connection?). The house had been bought about a year earlier by a single man who had never made a payment. It took over a year to foreclose on it.

I made an initial visit, which is called the Occupancy Check, to see if anyone was still living in Freddie’s foreclosed home. Indeed there was. As we drove up, little kids signaled the occupants inside. That action looked awfully well organized. It occurs to me the kids were lookouts. Uh-oh.

What is it about meth users? Oh, yeah, the hair, the teeth and the eyes.  It’s always unmistakable, and of course the house was trashed. What a scourge is meth. We talked to the occupants, who claimed to be relatives of the buyer. I told them what would happen. To avoid seeing the sheriff, we could offer them $2,000 to move out, leaving the property “broom clean” in two weeks’ time. That’s called Cash For Keys. They were all too eager to comply. They seemed to know the drill. I felt bad about the kids as we drove off.

My Red Bluff partner was a longtime agent but new to REOs. He knew the house. It had been remodeled the year earlier before being sold, and had been done up pretty cute. He did some digging and discovered the buyer named on the deed was institutionalized in an Alzheimer Care unit. Niiice. The “relatives” of the buyer had lived in the house for a year for free, and trashed it in the bargain. I told my agent friend to keep an eye on it as we waited out the two-week Cash For Keys period.

As it happened, I couldn’t be there for the lockout. I learned later that the occupants had spent the entire two weeks on one long yard sale. They were selling the appliances and anything else of value inside the house, including the water heater.  Freddie Mac received a fairly gutted house.

Let’s total this up: The “buyer” lived there a year free, took everything of value, trashed the place, got $2,000 cash and are free to buy or rent elsewhere with no black marks at all on their credit record. Good gig if you can get it. Freddie Mac policies inadvertently enable meth users. Talk about unintended consequences!

I’ve no idea if this caper is common, but it’s the real face of fraud in our community, and it impacted Freddie Mac directly. I don’t know how often this scenario may have been repeated across the country, or whether anyone will ever be held accountable for this big mess. The news over the weekend was that Freddie and Fannie had failed. It wasn’t news to me.  Will anyone be punished for the lack of oversight that led to fraud? Oh, definitely. You and I will bear the cost.

As for Bad Luck, one instance stands out. I won’t go into too much detail, for reasons that I’ll make clear, but the story is compelling. The subject was the longtime home of a locally well known community leader, and theirs was also a Feddie Mac mortgage that had gone into default.  I didn’t know her personally, so I thought this was going to be a good story I’d be telling everyone over a beer. “Hey, did I ever tell you about the time I evicted (locally well known community leader)?”

So I met with her to arrange the whole Cash For Keys routine. She wasn’t at all what I expected, which would have been the usual Greed or Stupidity. She was a victim of Bad Luck.

Her husband had become very ill. They had run through whatever medical insurance or other resources they could, and ultimately refinanced the house, until that was all gone too. They were left with nothing. They were getting by, but the house was no longer theirs.

As a side note, some banks encourage you as their agent to negotiate the dollar amount of the Cash For Keys, and will split the money difference with you, as an incentive. For these folks, I only wish I had more to offer. When the time came, they hadn’t prepared and didn’t know where they were going to live. She had friends in the community and had a place to go if we could wait longer. The banks hate delays. They know every day they have to wait, they lose more money. Too bad, so sad. I let them stay two more weeks.

On the final evening, we sat on the steps of the now empty house and they talked about their memories of the home. Here was an awkward moment. They talked about their son, and how he used to sneak out the second-story window. I asked where their son was now, and the answer came back: “Susanville.” I was silent. My young colleague, Erin, bless her heart, asked cheerfully, “What does he do there?” We three looked at her with incredulity. Oh, dear, what you do in “Susanville” is time.

I was so sad! But the evicted homeowner remained upbeat. I mean, she had the best game face ever. I was inspired.  If I were in her shoes, I think I’d have been cursing the fates with shaking fist. From her I never heard a harsh word, and she seemed only to be looking ahead, for something better. She spoke at length about what a bright future our community has. I can see why she was well regarded as a community leader. This is still a small town and I hope you won’t know her name from this story. She earned my true admiration. She deserved better. But nobody beats Bad Luck.

Selling the house turned out to be Bad Luck for me. It took way too long to sell. It had no sprinklers and the lawn died, and it looked terrible. I felt bad for the neighbors. I tried to keep it watered myself. Then I got a call from a neighbor at 10:00 p.m. asking, “Did you know there is water running out the front door?”  Uh, no. Racing down there, I found a burst water heater, and had to turn off the water to the whole house. The foreclosure arm of Freddie Mac is called Homesteps, and they declined to repair it, so there we are. Interior flood damage, dead lawn, dead plants, dying Realtor reputation among the neighbors. Sorry, folks. Bad Luck is contagious.

Like I said at the beginning, this all goes easier if you can detach yourself from the process. Good luck with that, repo men and women!

My spectrum model of Fraud-Greed-Stupidity-Bad Luck is an abstraction. The failure of Freddie and Fannie is not abstract. They have real impacts on real people, right here in River City. You can see it in the dead lawns of the foreclosed, and you may feel it in the future when you go to buy something with your possibly devalued dollar. The alternative to the weekend nationalization of Freddie and Fannie may have been unacceptable, but completing their rescue may have an impact on all of us with the secret tax of greater currency inflation. The news may seem far away and removed, but the effects may be hard on the dollar in your pocket. Encouraging home ownership is a good thing that separates us from the more mediocre nations of the world, but handing out money without oversight was wildly irresponsible. Tragically, nobody seems likely to go to “Susanville” for the fraudulent use of your money. Plan accordingly.

Skip Murphy and his daughter Erin are Realtors with Coldwell Banker in Redding, helping people buy and sell real estate. Which occasionally means working with foreclosures.

http://www.redhothomes.info/Skipsblog/wordpress/

You read Thom Gabrukiewicz’s story about the Shasta Trinity Trail project and an upcoming fund raiser. This slideshow is of Redding Mountain Bike members who worked for two days on the project. They joined trail crews who’ve been on the project all summer.  Photos by Max Walter.

Coffee time and it’s Friday morning! While on my way to work taking the scenic route through downtown… because I can… brought me to the intersection of Cypress Avenue and Athens, where I stopped at a red light.

Riding a motorcycle allows you to be connected with most everything around you no matter if you want to be or not. This morning was no exception! A strong northerly breeze was kicking up across the intersection which was filled with the most incredible fragrance of roasted coffee beans. You know that smell is better than how it actually tastes but this wasn’t from a steaming hot coffee pot.

I started to continue on my way but wait… I have smelled this here before and could it be that I am missing out on something really good? I decided to flip around the first chance I got and followed my nose till I found the source.

There on Athens is Coffee Creek Espresso & Deli and sure enough… on the north side of the A-framed roof was a smoke stack belting out the fresh aroma of coffee beans being roasted.

Into the line I went and waited my turn… of course I knew I wasn’t getting the coffee in the roaster but I knew this was going to be good.

I told the person at the window how wonderful the smell of the roasting coffee was and they said, yes, Gerald is busy in back roasting a fresh batch. I purchased a latte and carefully stuffed it in my pack, then continued on my way to the office where I have enjoyed one of the best coffees in a long time. Yes, I like a good cup of tea, too, but I never smelled tea in the morning smell so good.

Now here at my desk I launched my daily barrage of junk emails in hopes something interesting might actually land in my inbox. After a few hundred plus of trashed junk emails… there sat in the inbox just a lone few worthy of reading. This one really got me going as I sat here sipping on my coffee.

From Don and Denise Rowlett, recently of Redding, now owners of historic Pinehurst Inn, east of Ashland, Ore.:

Dear Duane,

To view this week’s menu, click here.

This week we are featuring an entree suggested by Paul Abbott, a member of our “clean plate” club! If you liked our Parmesan Herb-Encrusted Chicken or our Ravioli, you’ll love our new Chicken Scaloppini.

Thanks to everyone who booked rooms! We are nearly full for the next few weeks. If you have not yet given us the chance to spoil you rotten, make a reservation at ThePinehurstInn.com.

All Points Bulletin! Briggs and Stratton (our “lawn mower” goats) escaped! They were headed for the border but were captured as they lingered over the daisies near the back porch.

Here is another sign for you. We change the sign each day, so we would love to hear your suggestions for Obama, McCain and Biden coffee. Subscribe to the “Here’s Your Sign” list to receive a photo of each day’s sign (when we have time to send them out!).

Would you be so kind as to forward this message to a friend or two? We would be REALLY grateful! Thanks!

- Donnie and Denise, Hosts

Duane Langshaw lives in Old Shasta.

By R. Aguiar

The thing to keep in mind is your guests. Are they vodka drinkers? Is tequila their thing? What do you like?

Have a signature drink in mind and really try to perfect it. Then you can tweak it, to make it your own. When you get to the store of your choice, keep in mind whom you’re buying for. The typical bar has vodka, gin, tequila, rum, whiskey, triple sec and various mixes.

Before you set out on your quest, visit some websites like webtender.com or drinkstreet.com

I use these a lot to try to find those made-up drinks that someone concocted after a night of trying to satisfy a picky customer. Look at some of their recipes and notice the common threads. More than likely it will be vodka, a liqueur and a mix. The alcohols will be an ounce to an ounce and a half each. This should give you the sizes of bottles you’ll need, also. Make sure to buy them in the quantities you’ll need. Save your money by buying a small bottle of galliano or other rarely used accent flavors.

Look for sales when you’re out shopping for groceries or nail polish. A bottle here and there, and before you know it, you’re ready to cut the lemons and slice the limes.

Here’s some of the bartending

hardware:

Boston shaker
Julep strainer
Double jigger (1.5 and 2 ounce)
Glasses (4-6 ounce buckets, enough for the number of guests plus 25 percent for glass. If you don’t want to do the dishes during the party then the plastic ones will do; not as formal, but much easier.)

Here’s a good start on your first setup:
1 liter bottle of Kettle One vodka
1 liter bottle of Grey Goose vodka
750 ml. bottle of Tanqueray gin
750 ml. bottle of Patron tequila
750 ml. bottle of Cointreau
750 ml. bottle of Bacardi light rum

Sweet-and-sour mix (see recipe, below)

Cranberry, pineapple and orange juices (small cans if you’re not going to use them too often)

Garnishes, such as olives, baby onions, lemon peel, limes, etc. (Try to learn the traditional ones. Your guests will be impressed. It’s really up to you, but a drink seams naked without one.)

Sweet-and-sour mix

Place sugar and water in pan, place on stove over medium heat. Stir to dissolve sugar. Then turn stove off and add the juices. (No seeds; they will make it bitter.) Add the salt.

Place in airtight jar and refrigerate immediately. Feel free to adjust the tartness level. Remember, this is sweet and sour, not lemonade.

R. Aguiar, aka the Professor Bartender, lives and bartends in Redding. He can be reached at raygear@yahoo.com

By Melina Taylor

When I first moved to Redding last month I had been warned about the infamous California wildfire, but I shrugged and laughed off the jokes people made about my future state burning to the ground, breaking off from the U.S. because of a massive earthquake or being carried away by a mudslide.

When I drove the homestretch of my three-day drive across the country I was excited about reaching my destination. However, once I hit the valley side of Lassen National Park I was shocked to be engulfed in a sea of smoke. I had been hearing about the numerous fire outbreaks from the June thunderstorms, but I didn’t think the thick grayish red smoke would still be around at the end of July. Clearly, I was mistaken and had no idea what I had gotten myself into.

I’m used to the Tennessee summers of 100-degree temperatures and 90 percent humidity. It’s hot, just like it is in Redding, but it’s moist, to the point where walking down to the mailbox leaves you covered in a fresh coat of sweat. I was looking forward to the dry heat and the cooler nights. I guess I should have known that no climate is perfect.

Over my first week here, the smoke subsided and the air became its normal crisp blue. I thought the fire threat was over, until yesterday morning. I was having a quiet day, had just finished my turkey sandwich for lunch and was about to head to the gym when my boyfriend flew through the front door and told me I needed to head outside.

Before I even saw the plumes of smoke I smelled the unforgettable campfire aroma. It looked like the area surrounding Turtle Bay was on fire and it was, along with the ridge coming down North Market Street from Hilltop Drive. A massive operation of law enforcement and firefighters were working frantically to reroute traffic and douse the flames. Two helicopters and two bombers were continuously diving towards the Sacramento River and making laps across the hillside. For two hours my boyfriend and I, along with local business owners and scared residents stood taking pictures and watching as the aircrafts flew overhead carrying thousands of gallons of water.

I don’t think I’ve ever been completely captivated and spooked at the same time. It wasn’t until a few minutes after I had been watching the black smoke billow up into the sky that I realized the fire might spread to my side of the street. I immediately started to make a mental list of valuable items to throw in a box if the time came to leave.

Luckily, I escaped the need for evacuation and it turned out no structures were harmed in the blaze. I was anxious about moving to California and can say my time here so far has been adventurous to say the least. I thought that I was safe from the California weather curse, as my friends back home in Chattanooga would say. I was immensely impressed at the organization level and the amount of law enforcement personnel who devoted their time to getting the fire under control. I’m sending them a big round of thanks for keeping this new citizen safe.

Melina Taylor lives in Redding.

By Paul Shigley

I get no pleasure out of writing that the most important corner in downtown Redding is soon going to have a vacancy. The corporate honchos in Seattle decided that the Starbucks at the corner of California and Placer streets in downtown Redding will close.

The Starbucks with a drive-through window at the edge of downtown? That one stays. So does the Starbucks at the other end of downtown inside Safeway. But the coffee house at the most visible corner in downtown? The store that was supposed to anchor a cornerstone adaptive reuse project? It’s closing.

Five months ago, one of downtown Redding’s most popular lunch spots closed. Cheesecake’s Unlimited had served up salads, sandwiches and other goodies for 17 years. A story in the Record Searchlight newspaper suggested that the local owner, who lost a business partner last year, could no longer keep running two restaurant locations. So he decided to stick with his restaurant across town (located in a strip center between Safeway and a Lowe’s big box) and close the original downtown lunch spot.

Interestingly, the owner said that a new Shasta College branch located half a block away did not increase his business. That has to be a difficult for downtown boosters to accept, because the attractive community college facility, although small, was supposed to be a “catalytic” project for downtown.

As many of you know, Redding is the city closest to where I live. I’d love for it to be an exciting, lively place, but it’s not. Boosters argue that downtown is “getting better.” I appreciate their enthusiasm, but I can’t agree with them.

About the same time that Cheesecake’s closed, an independent CD, record and paraphernalia shop shut down. Last year, a family-owned men’s clothing store closed after decades in business. A Subway was supposed to replace the clothier, but project proponents now say the sandwich shop is doubtful.

At the site of the soon-to-close Starbucks, a property owner invested millions on an adaptive reuse project. But once Starbucks closes, only a small clothing store and the property owner’s cosmetics business will remain amid the empty storefronts.

Redding’s downtown mall is still some sort of bizarre joke that must be seen to be believed.

Last year, when we ranked downtown Redding the second most disappointing among mid-sized cities in California, some people in City Hall took it as a knock on their redevelopment efforts. Maybe it was, but downtown Redding’s failure is far too complete for only the government to get the blame. Property owners and merchants deserve large shares, too.

Ultimate responsibility, though, lies with the community. Redding is a town where people rush to the newest franchise restaurant. Earlier this year, they lined up overnight for the opening of a Chipotle in a rebuilt strip center. Seriously. It’s a town where Wal-Mart, Costco, Target and Home Depot have big boxes within walking distance of each other — although you’d take your life in your hands trying to make the trip on foot.

In other words, most people who live in Redding don’t care about having a vibrant, walkable downtown full of local flavor. And no one — including an urban planning journalist who thinks he knows better – can make them care.

Paul Shigley is editor of California Planning & Development Report, a trade publication for planners, land-use lawyers, developers, academics and policy-makers. He’s also the co-author of Guide to California Planning, a college textbook and standard reference manual for planners. His blog is The Daily Shig. Link to Paul Shigley’s blog to see the above story, which first appeared online on the CP&DR on July 26, and Shigley’s other posts.

Books fly at us often. We bibliophiles are barraged with new releases, paperbacks, beach reads and novels that have been on our nightstand for a month. Or six.

We stress ourselves out and wish we read faster. Even the speed readers among us cannot keep up.

I think this is marvelous and I truly love the rush. So for those of you who don’t enjoy the back-logged anxiety as much as I, then read on.

Here is a spot for reviews of works old and new; some straight from the publisher, yet-to-be- released, and some several years old.

Here is a glimpse into my reading life, into what’s on my bookshelf and nightstand.  Let this column be your guide as you rest easy, my friends. Or use it as justification to go grab just one more book.
Happy reading,
Shannon
http://postcardscalder.blogspot.com

‘Gentlemen & Players,’ by Joanne Harris

No story should be compared to another.

As a reviewer, this simple sentence takes on even greater significance.

For example, it would be unfair to describe “Free Food for Millionaires,” by Min Jin Lee, as a cross between Amy Tan’s “Joy Luck Club,” and “Good in Bed,” by Jennifer Weiner. Besides the unfairness, it’s also not an exact description. Close, but not exact.

Yet, when I’m perusing the literature sections in a bookstore, recommending books to friends and acquaintances, speaking at book clubs or introducing new authors to new audiences, I feel entirely justified to describe novels in this fashion.

Upon first instinct, I want to write that “Gentlemen & Players” is what the ever-popular “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown should have been. It’s also a poor comparison and an injustice to Brown. He wrote, finally, the national sensation he’d been trying to write for years. However shallow and thriller-esque and formulaic the book was, we cannot argue that it was entertaining. Perhaps that was Brown’s only goal—and a novel (pardon the pun) one at that. ‘Twas candy for us bibliophiles.

We love to critique that book in our elitist ways—to roll our eyes when we see the red cover. Yet, we all read it and couldn’t put the thing down.

Now that I’ve paid my small homage to the sweeping, trendy read, let me say I don’t compare authors. I inherently compare my reactions to the works.

At first, “Gentlemen and Players,” should have been what “The Da Vinci Code,” attempted to be. But that isn’t accurate, as I’ve mentioned. “Gentlemen and Players,” is what I wanted from “The Da Vinci Code.”

“Gentlemen and Players,” is beyond clever. Beyond surprising. And, in a very tricky way, makes the reader wonder who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist as we quietly begin to cheer for all of them.

We, as readers, are also fed our share of foreshadowing.

This novel, originally published in January 2006, and the only reason I picked it up was the dear bookseller at Bloomsbury Books in Ashland, Ore.  She would not allow me to continue my opinion of Joanne Harris. I had written her off as a novelist whose books I would never revere or recommend when I attempted to read “Chocolat.” Five times.

When I’m of the opinion that a movie based on a novel is better than the novel itself (which is rare, but does occur) I tend to sit in my ivory tower and not only judge, but stop reading all said authors works. It’s a flaw, I’m aware.

So here is my public apology to Harris.

And a sweeping, large bravo.

I’m choosing not to go into any sort of synopsis concerning this novel. It’s grand, and if you need a summary, there are many, as this book is a couple of years’ old now.

Trust me on this one and just go get it.

Her newest book, “The Girl with No Shadow,” awaits. I am anxious to read.

Stay tuned, my fellow book lovers.

Be good.

And for goodness sakes, read this book.

Shannon Calder is a freelance writer/consultant/inspiration specialist and book reviewer. To read more go to http://postcardscalder.blogspot.com

By John Truitt

Removal of the entrance walls and the first sections of the Downtown Mall roof are already changing the way our central blocks look.

You can stand in the south plaza, ostensibly the corner of Market and Yuba, and look toward community landmarks. Looking west you can see the Lorenz Hotel and past the train tracks over to the cluster of buildings in the courthouse area. When you look east down Yuba you can see beyond the river valley and over to the bluffs.

It reminds me how thunderstruck I was one day, not long after the north end of the mall roof had been removed. I was standing next to the lawn up by the Shasta College Health Sciences Center. I looked over to the west and there was the Shasta Union High School District building on the horizon. (Of course I will always think of it as Nova.)

Opening up the space gives you a sense of place, geography, history. Outward, not inward. Downtown as a center rather than a hole.

Some staff members at the County Clerk’s Registrar and Elections office on the 1600 block of Market Street took a few of the plants that were growing in the middle of the Mall walkways, potted the plants, and will have them in their office. The more gigantic specimens, like the 18-foot-tall ficus trees, have already been cut and tossed.

I am not sad to see these plants go. They were big, and maybe even could have been pretty in a correct location, but the Museum of the World’s Largest Houseplants had seen its day and was not drawing any tourists.

As the interior layers are removed and revealed you realize how temporary and unfinished it looked, almost as if it were designed to be up for a short time. It appeared impermanent because the remaining mall features were so artless. Except for the glass towers, the majority of columns were straight, unadorned sticks of concrete. The planter areas were concrete slabs with a hole in the middle. Suburban sidewalk as interior decor. There are still incongruous outdoor wooden decks in the air. Those decks used to have small metal sculpture features, but that arty touch has been gone for years. The machinery is exposed, with metal pipes carrying wires to uncovered fluorescent tube fixtures drilled into the ceiling. Some iron beams holding up certain roof sections gave the feeling of an unending repair phase. Huge concrete electrical boxes jut out of the floor centers, holding big metal doors with hanging locks.

We are already talking about having our Christmas Light Spectacular there again this year. Community desire seems strong, and I know last year’s display was immensely popular. We do have some real costs to put it up. Viva will need to get some sponsor commitments. I am curious to see if our community can rally for this. Times are tough. But just as the changes with the Downtown Mall itself, the Christmas Spectacular projects itself into the future — an idea of creating new downtown Redding memories.

John Truitt is the executive director of Viva Downtown Redding.

It is our goal that every customer has a positive experience at the Redding Public Library. The library contains not only materials and resources, but also serves as a community center. As a free public institution, the library is open to all.

Library users are required to following the City’s code regarding proper conduct on library premises. Security is also available many hours a week. The City also passed an ordinance to prohibit smoking within 60 feet of the library’s front door.

Since the library is a public building, it is important that parents supervise their young children while visiting the library. In fact, if young children are left unattended, the proper authorities are notified.

We appreciate input from our community members. However, I am somewhat surprised at Mr. Largent’s letter since I have recently received so many positive comments from both the public and staff about improved conditions at the library.

It is also important to note that the library has been designated as a “Cooling Center” during this difficult time of extreme heat and smoke from the nearby fires.

Sincerely,

Jan K. Erickson
Library Director
Shasta Public Libraries

Speak your piece - Michael J. Stuart, Superintendent, Shasta Union High School

If you were watching the NBA playoffs this last week, you no doubt saw a lot of cheap shots on the court. 

Was the Record Searchlight emulating this practice when the editorial staff published a caricature of two men burning the First Amendment over a Volcano?  No doubt the cartoonist thought him or herself very clever to have brought together all of the elements of the “big controversy” in one image.  The image was of the Shasta High principal and the Shasta Union High School District Superintendent jointly burning the Bill of Rights and included a cartoon figure telling me that my flag lapel pin is burning.   

Just in case the average RS reader had missed this big story (two, or is it three days above the fold?), our names were boldly printed.  Very clever, indeed. Too bad it wasn’t based upon fact. Or is adherence to the truth no longer a responsibility of the Record Searchlight?  Perhaps using public figures as punching bags and throwing a little “red meat” to the part of the blogging community that do not want all the facts and prefer personal attacks sells more papers and creates more hits on the Web site so the advertising can be more effective.

For those of you who are interested in the truth, read on.  The rest of you; feel free to rush to your computers and anonymously share your opinions and don’t let the facts slow you down. 

My responses to the editorial in the Volcano were that I thought it was self–indulgent, patronizing and condescending to those of us who are combat veterans - poor timing since it was the last issue on the last day of school - and that I did not like the article. 

I never said that I thought the editorial writer did not have the right to publish the editorial, or that I thought students should not have that right.  Students in California cannot be censored in their publications by teachers, school administrators or school boards (Education Code 48907) unless there is libel, slander, obscenity or it incites students to disrupt the orderly operation of schools.

It is becoming more common that when one responds to “free speech” in editorials or otherwise, the respondent is labeled as someone that wants to destroy the constitution and take away the “free speech” of the original messenger or their supporters.  Playing this “free speech” card instead of defending one’s viewpoints is cowardly and does nothing for useful public discourse concerning issues of the day. 

I am the guy who, last week, called the home of Amanda, next year’s Volcano editor, and had a nice talk with her mother and asked for Amanda to call me.  She did, and we had positive talk about her vision of the paper.  Amanda is confident she can get more than the eleven students currently signed up for next year’s journalism class.  As a result of this conversation, I decided to fund an extra section next year at Shasta High School to give these kids a chance to gain journalism experience and create one of the best student newspapers in the state. 

Next, I called and talked to a member of the Record Searchlight’s editorial staff for some insight on how they make decisions about what to editorialize and how they handle controversial editorials in terms of the factors that are considered so I could discuss them with Amanda.   I also asked if they would be willing to meet with Amanda and other journalism students to give our kids insight from professional journalists.  The response from the Record Searchlight was they would really enjoy meeting with the students.

When I first became Superintendent 10 years ago I met with the Record Searchlight staff and stated that I knew there would be times when they would disagree with me and some of my decisions.  I stated that I thought that was fair but I asked that that when we disagreed we did so in the best tradition of public debate and they not impugn my character or dedication and commitment to young American students.  I have been treated fairly through the years and have appreciated the positive press and even the differences of opinion on policy that caused me to take another look at our decisions.

However, lately things seemed to have changed at our local paper. Although the folks who run the Record Searchlight may not agree, citizens are developing negative views of a paper that seeks the sensational scandal over the substantive news and panders to those who prefer personal attacks rather than reasoned public discussions.

The most recent edition of the Volcano was big news in the nation for about two minutes. In Redding it’s the equivalent of an actual volcanic eruption because the Record Searchlight keeps it going.  In this case, having run out of facts the Record Searchlight fabricates fodder to add to the fire and throws red meat to the bloggers. Let’s hope for two things: that the Volcano’s staff consistently aspires to a high level of journalistic integrity and that the Record Searchlight editors stop reinforcing the growing negative public opinion of their publication.  

All of our institutions, including the Record Searchlight, should aspire to raise the level of respect and civility in the community and call us all to the highest standards. 

We all are stewards of American democracy and need to participate in it with reasoned thought, class and dignity knowing that differences of opinion are healthy and not reason for the destruction of one’s reputation and credibility. 

If you have an opinion on a local topic and would like to share it with Food for Thought, drop a note to attndoni@gmail.com to get guidelines for writing.

When every dollar counts, why throw away pennies? Fresh produce is relatively inexpensive if we pick the best for the money.

Lettuce. A head can be bitter or sweet. Choose a green one that isn’t wilted and feels substantial in weight. The cut stem end is probably brown. With a fingernail, scrape off enough to see light green. Smell it. If it has an iodine smell, reject. If you see mold, reject. Repeat until you find one that has little smell or a sweet smell (much preferred). When you get home, cut off the the old area and soak the rest in a bowl of cold water while you put away the groceries. The head of lettuce will last for a long time.

Celery. Same thing.

Oranges. They don’t re-green. Pick orange oranges.

Baby carrots. They must be baby carrots, not big carrots peeled down to small carrots. One Christmas I made the mistake of not checking the “baby carrots” for that before I cooked them. I tried them before serving. Horribly tough! Had to go with Plan B.

Regular carrots. They should be firm and as thin as possible. The thick ones are horse carrots, for the obvious reason.

Corn. Does the sign say “sweet corn?” If not, the corn probably isn’t sweet. Corn in husks should be fresh-looking and green on the outside. Pull back the husk and look for plump kernels that are smaller toward the pointy end. Large kernels to the end mean they were picked too late. Old, stored corn will have wrinkles in the kernels. The sugar content of corn changes when it rests at room temperature for a length of time.

Potatoes. My house has only two people, and we can’t use 10 pounds of potatoes (or even five). My neighbor and I share large amounts. Make sure the bag of potatoes doesn’t have any moldy ones in it. Even one will cause the rest to go downhill fast. (Same goes for oranges and apples.) I choose potatoes for their intended use — large ones with little eyes for mashed, and just-the-right-size ones for baking.

Watermelon. Look for one that is uniform in size, not lopsided. Hold it like a baby, and pat it as if burping a baby. You want to hear a crisp, low, drum sound. A low, dull sound means it is overripe. Too high a sound means it is underripe. Remember, stores guarantee their products. A watermelon costs $4 or more nowadays. If you pick a bad one, take it back with the receipt for a refund.

Honeydew. You can pick this one without even lifting. With dry hands, spread out your fingers, place on the melon skin and pull toward you. A ripe one will have a tacky squeak.

Persian. Feel the bottom for a soft area.

Cantaloupe. Look for orange in the skin. Pick it up and smell. One that can be used right away smells great. If you pick one that has color but little fragrance, leave it on your kitchen counter a couple of days. When it smells right, refrigerate to hold.

Strawberries. Look for red all the way to the tip. Beware of rotten ones in the basket. Large ones often have a hollow center.

Grapes. They should be firm, plump and clinging to the stem. Don’t discount seeded grapes; they have more flavor. I do not like the trend of stores packaging up grapes nowadays, including the loose ones rolling around in the case. Unbundle the grocer’s prepackaged bag and put the amount you want in a produce bag. The clerk will sell it by weight at checkout.

Global trade has changed the produce world. Strawberries, melons and grapes come from all over. Wash all produce with a drop or two of bleach to a gallon of water. Discard the water and repeat with each product. I keep bleach in a honey bear container on the counter for ready use.

Mel is a trusted produce buyer from the Shasta area countryside who likes to keep a low profile.

Note from Doni: Opposing candidates for this seat did not respond to our offer to appear on this forum. 

(Candidates’ statements are unaltered and published exactly as submitted.)

An Open Letter to the Voters of the North State from Pete Stiglich Candidate for State Assembly, District 2.

It’s been an exciting nine months since announcing my candidacy to replace Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa, who will be leaving in November due to term limits. Thank you, sir, for your service and for defending our conservative principles.

Click here to view candidates statements

It was a privilege to serve this great Nation for 26 years as an officer in the US Air Force. I retired in 2006 as a full colonel and returned to my ranch in Cottonwood. Like many of you, I felt dissatisfied with the performance of our state and federal governments. But, I knew I had to do more than complain. I decided the time was right and the need was great for me to make my entrance onto the political stage. Given my command experience in the Air Force, along with several years as a teacher, I felt I had the ‘right stuff’ to successfully represent North State voters in Sacramento.

I’ve met so many good folks on my walking tour of the district, including visits to Yreka, Ft Jones, Dunsmuir, McCloud, Mt Shasta City, Shasta Lake, Weed, Redding, Anderson, Cottonwood, Red Bluff, Corning, Willows, Live Oak, Williams, Colusa, Orland, Stonyford, and Yuba City, to name a few. I loved getting to know so many wonderful, hard working folks and listening to the people. The experience is one I will carry with me forever. Thanks for your hospitality and encouragement along the way.

I’m not a professional politician. I started my grass-roots campaign solely to serve you, the voters of the North State. I knew if I remained true to my principles, my values, my Christian beliefs and true to my commitment to the citizens, I couldn’t help but succeed. I want to show that a common man like me, without money and influence, can still participate in our political process. It’s the way it used to be and I’m on a mission to show it can be that way again…that the voters hold the key in their own hands.

There’s much to be done and no time to waste. I will vote to secure our borders and improve our infrastructure. I will defend the rights of seniors and children and provide veterans special consideration. I will bring excellence to our schools. I will fervently oppose any tax increase and will work to reduce each taxpayer’s liability. It’s time we balance the state budget and live within our means. I will define marriage as between a man and a woman and will be pro-life. I will support a water use policy that makes North State needs a priority. I will protect the individual’s right to bear arms.

Ladies and gentlemen, at the end of the day, it’s great to be an American!

(Candidates’ statements are unaltered and published exactly as submitted.)

Glenn Hawes for Supervisor, Dist. 3

P.O. Box 52

Palo Cedro, CA 96073

http://www.glennhawes.com/ 
 
 

Dear Doni,  

I would like to convey my personal thanks to you for inviting me to submit a statement for readers. 

I’ve been a resident of Shasta County my whole life. I was raised here, and three generations of my family lived here before that. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and have been a farmer as well as a businessman with Hawes Ranch and Farm Supply.  

As you know, I am dedicated to our local community. I’ve always been a Board Member who seeks as much input from the constituents as possible and proactively works on issues on their behalf. I hope to continue this with another four years as Supervisor in District 3.  

It is important to point out some of the very successful projects I’ve been involved with and supported during the past 11 years as Supervisor District 3. The new Redding Library, Fall River Airport, Road Improvements, the Veteran’s Cemetery and “Don’t Trash Shasta” Program are just a few of those important accomplishments.  

If re-elected, I will continue to support public safety, fire protection, mental health and public health programs. I will also be supportive of developing new business opportunities and job growth in our County while being mindful of the need to conform this growth with the character of our existing communities.  

We currently face many tough challenges at the County and I believe that I provide the necessary leadership on the Board to face these challenges. We need the stability that I offer, flowing from level-headed experience, in order to ensure that our future days are some of our most memorable days.  

Thank you very much,  
 

Glenn Hawes

(Candidates’ statements are unaltered and published exactly as submitted.)

Why a Change is Needed in Supervisor District 3
and Differences Between Waggoner and Hawes

After walking hundreds of homes and meeting countless folks in Shasta County Board of Supervisors District 3, I can state that voters want a change in the eastern portion of Shasta County. That’s communities like Burney, McArthur, Hat Creek, Whitmore, Jones Valley, Round Mountain, Big Bend, and the area where three-fifths of the voters live, Palo Cedro, Bella Vista and east Redding.  Many of these voters are new residents to the area and don’t even know their supervisor.
Living here for almost five years has given me the opportunity to become involved in a variety of community activies:  Youth Peer Council, Palo Cedro Community Park and outdoor trail hikes.
My experience as an attorney and land use planner, and in budgeting for a large organization, gives me hands-on experience that I can use Day1 as a supervisor.
For more information on why I’m running for supervisor,  please go to www.brucewaggoner.com.
Here’s what sets me apart from my opponent.
I will hold town hall meetings throughout the district. I will not vote to close down important health centers like Shasta Psychiatric Hospital; I will work to find funding.  I will help to create good-paying jobs in the InterMountain area.  I will not vote to pave over hundreds of acres of prime ag-land anywhere in Shasta County.  I will make sure District 3 gets its fair share of impact fees to support ambulance service and hospitals in the eastern part of the district. I will be proactive in obtaining grants, not waiting for state bailouts.  I will act as a mediator between the Board of Supervisors and the city councils regarding tax-sharing agreements.
The governor and legislature are keen on California being the showcase for a “green economy.”  Shasta County, as the sun capital of the West, is poised to receive potential funding for energy-saving projects.  We haven’t even tapped our solar energy potential. I will lead the charge.

Bruce Waggoner
Attorney-Mediator
U.S. Navy veteran