The Salvation Army of Red Bluff needs help to fill the 600 Holiday Food Boxes they plan to provide to families in need this year.
The public is urged to donate any of the following items:

• Gift cards for the purchase of turkeys or fresh turkeys and hams
• Sweet potatoes (canned or fresh)
• Stuffing Mix
• Fresh Potatoes
• Boxed mashed potato mix
• Fresh rolls
• Green beans (canned or fresh)
• Cranberries (canned or fresh)
• Vegetables
• Fruit Cocktail
• Pumpkin pie
• Apple Pie
• Jello
• Canned Milk
• Sugar
• Flour

Food donations can be dropped off at:
The Salvation Army-Red Bluff Corps
940 Walnut Street
Red Bluff, CA 96080

Monetary donations can be sent to:
The Salvation Army-Red Bluff Corps
Attn: Holiday Food Boxes
P.O. Box 935
Red Bluff, CA 96080

To make a secure donation online, visit: www.salarmyredbluff.org

Don't look for professional baseball anytime soon at Simpson University. But through the work of some local former big leaguers, among others, the Simpson Stadium Project is getting a big boost.

An arm of Major League Baseball called the "Baseball Tomorrow Fund" is offering Simpson a $100,000 challenge grant. To be eligible for the grant, at least three former major leaguers have to endorse the project.

There is considerable site work that has to be done, like removing scrub oaks and flattening the ground. Local contractors have stepped up to make in-kind commitments. Money is also being raised, so this grant is coming at a great time.

Creating the playing surface is phase one of the project. Re-constructing the stadium that was moved up from Vacaville is part of phase two.

The reason Major League Baseball stepped in is because the field will be used by youth sports, especially through the non-profit organization “Add Some Color”, which is a big part of this effort.

A program that offers hands-on career training to thousands of Northstate high-schoolers is under the microscope. It is called the Shasta-Trinity Regional Occupational Program, or ROP.

It had to slash its budget by 21% this year, thanks to California's cash crunch. Clerical staff took the brunt of the blow.

Now, the Shasta Union High School District is pitching a plan to eliminate the administration altogether.

Here is how the ROP currently operates: students from six school districts take vocational training classes at the Redding campus. Like a typical school district, it has a superintendent and office staff.

One of the participating schools, Shasta Union High School District, is proposing a dramatic plan that would eliminate that office. Shasta wants to take over their duties, like accounting, purchasing and H.R. work.

Think of it as sub-contracting. But because of ROP's special curriculum, the superintendent of ROP says there is more to their job than that. He says that a lot of the work comes with working with community employers.

Shasta says it will charge ROP $100,000 to take over the office duties. Currently, it costs $300,000 for one superintendent and four clerical staff.

To put this plan into action, the participating school districts need to sign on. Half of them already say they are opposed to the plan. Shasta's school superintendent says he still plans to push forward.

'Tis the season for a holiday tradition that feeds thousands of people in Redding. The Good News Rescue Mission launched its annual Turkey Drive Thursday.

It provides Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, as well as sending families home with their own turkey and all the fixings. People who work at the mission say the best part is seeing kids enjoy the holiday meals.

AAA and J & L Towing donated nearly a thousand dollars-worth of turkey. It sounds like a lot, but it is less than 10% of what the mission needs. It is trying to get 1,200 turkeys donated.

Siskiyou County officials are still looking for a 19-year old man who went missing after going on a fishing trip. Officials say 19-year old Daryl Dyke Jr. of Hornbrook went missing after going on a camping trip to Jenny Creek Campground at Irongate Lake.

Crews located his boat and fishing gear in the lake, but they have not been able to find his body. They will search for the body using sonar boats through Saturday.

A Butte County man has pleaded no contest Thursday morning to murder charges stemming from his wife's killing. He reportedly confessed to the killing after he was arrested.

Steven Zornes stabbed Katherine Jewel Allen last month, after being married for 6 months.

It is not the first time Zornes has had a run-in with the law. He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in 1987 and was sentenced to 11 years in that case.

He faces sentencing next month.

Police tracked down and apprehended a suspect late Thursday after hit and run crash at the USA gas station in Anderson.

They initially traced the car to a local bar, where Nicholas Cherry, 25, was identified by several witnesses.

According to an Anderson Police press release, Cherry ran from the scene. Police called in K-9 teams, CHP helicopters and support from the Shasta County Sheriff's Office.

Eventually, police caught up with and used a taser to apprehend Cherry somewhere along Red Bud Lane. He was booked into the Shasta County Jail for suspicion of driving under the influence, resisting a peace officer, and giving a false identity to a peace officer.

Hit and run charges will be filed with the Shasta County District Attorney's Office for review.

CHP officers arrested a Chico man they said caused a violent head-on collision early Thursday morning for drunken driving.

According to a CHP press release, Archie Murpy was driving the wrong direction on the Skyway when his car crashed straight into a car heading toward him.

Both drivers were severely injured. They were taken to Enloe Medical Center for treatment.

According to the CHP, Murphy was arrested after an evaluation at the hospital found alcohol in his system. He will remain in the hospital for a lengthy treatment.

Former Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin could visit Redding in a few months. Sources tell KRCR that officials are currently working to bring Palin to the Redding Convention Center in February. So far, nothing has been set in stone, and sources tell us all the details and arrangements are still being worked out.

We will let you know if and when an agreement is reached.

Shasta County has a more than $7 million budget hole to fill in the next 18 months. The United Public Employees of California (UPEC) has agreed to sit down and talk with the County about cuts.

At Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting, Shasta County Chief Administrative Officer Larry Lees updated the board on falling state revenue, which has a direct impact on the county budget.

Wednesday afternoon, UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker told me the union is willing to meet with Lees and two supervisors to take a look at Shasta County's financial picture, and what the union might be willing to do.

Darker said, “I guess they want to make sure that, before they start giving up a part of their paychecks, or their benefits, that due diligence has been done to look into other areas that would be cut as well, such as building projects, or other overhead.”

Darker says he hopes the union will be able to meet with Lees and County staff within the next week.

Cash-crunched Modoc County is seeing some shake-ups in local government. This happened as county officials are struggling to make ends meet.

New financial projections show the county will not be able to make payroll by March. But we learned that the County is in talks with Plumas Bank about getting a $3.4 million loan.

They are going to try and do this without Mark Charlton, Modoc County's Chief Administrative Officer, who has resigned. He did it during last week's Board of Supervisors meeting. His resignation is effective December 4th.

The CEO of Modoc Medical Center, Walter Beck, has also stepped down. He says it is a coincidence that he is leaving at the same time; he simply had another job offer from a hospital in Nevada.

Beck reportedly submitted his resignation the same day as Charlton.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the nation celebrated and honored our veterans. All throughout the Northstate, celebrations took place, from Redding to Corning to Chico.

One such event took place in Igo Wednesday morning at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery. A C-17 cutting across the sky started the memorial at the Northstate's only Veterans Cemetery.

Hundreds of veterans gathered as a variety of speakers, bands, and veteran groups paid homage to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

More than 500 people filled the Elks Lodge to remember those who have served in the military for Veterans Day. Veterans from every war, from World War II to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, were recognized by speakers and the Chico community.

Bands provided music as the crowds made their way into the auditorium. City Councilor Larry Wahl, who served in the Navy in Vietnam, says events like this give younger people a chance to learn what service to your country means.

Wahl says the attendance on Wednesday was the largest he had seen since the event began seven years ago.

The Superintendent of the Chico Unified School District is asking teachers to lend a helping hand with the current budget situation the district is facing.

Superintendent Kelly Staley is hoping the teachers will accept a reduction of 3 days of work during the school year, along with a 3% salary reduction and refusal of pay raises. The district says the teachers' share of cuts that should be made total about $3.88 million.

The Chico Unified Teachers Association will discuss the proposal and decide what they want to offer to the district.

Approximately 150 people gathered at a Red Bluff marijuana collective Tuesday night to oppose the city's ban on marijuana grows, collectives and co-ops.

The rally began around 6 p.m at Mother Earth Collective. Opponents to the ban were joined by officials with a medical marijuana advocacy group called Cal Normals, who said they would match community donations supporting a fund for court fees.

Local supporters said they weren't looking for a fight, but they're ready for one.

"We feel like our rights are being taken away," said Kathy Prather of Tehama Herbal Collective. "We can't have that. We need to get together and speak our minds."

Medical marijuana activist Jason Browne said he wanted to see the city work together with marijuana supporters to build a set of guidelines that mesh with the statewide Compassionate Use Act.

But if that does not happen, activists said they are ready for a legal battle.

Patients and government officials at a Redding Planning Commission meeting Tuesday morning agreed something needs to be done about regulating medical marijuana.

Commission members talked about regulations they'd like to see put into place. Despite differing views, most of the audience agreed the situation has gotten out of hand.

Ideas floated included limiting co-ops and collectives to general and heavy commercial zones, requiring outdoor home grows to be a specified distance from the road and neighbors, ensuring marijuana gardens are secured by fencing, and banning gardens near schools and inside collectives.

The commission will have the planning department research their ideas, and find out how they could impact the city. Those findings will be brought up in a later meeting.

A couple flying from Seattle to Arizona were forced to crash-land their small airplane at the Chico airport just after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The plane, a single-engine beach-craft, hit the north end of the airport as it lost power attempting to land.

The couple had been planning to stop for the night in Chico anyway when the plane broke down.

The pilot was not injured and her husband suffered only cuts on his head and wrist. He was treated and released at the scene.

The Chico airport was closed for approximately 45 minutes.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

The Shasta Union High School district board approved a two million dollar cut to their budget during Tuesday night's meeting. About 15 full time positions will be cut to part time. Most will be working 11 months instead of 12 next year. Superintendent Jim Cloney says the decision means you won't see as many services during the summer months, but students won't feel the cuts in the classroom.

Adult Good Samaritan Hero: Tom McFerrin.

As a part-owner and manager of an RV Park, Tom McFerrin went way beyond the call of duty when he sold his own home to help the park meet its financial obligations. Living in a fifth wheel, the nomination for McFerrin says he makes the park residents feel like family.

Community Volunteer Hero: Karen Hofer.

Karen is on her 2nd decade at the Care Net Pregnancy Center. Hofer oversees the organization’s 24-hour hotline and volunteers one day a week at the center, where clients learn parenting skills, nutrition and child development.

Law Enforcement: Anderson Police Officers Casey Day, Garrett Maxwell and Stephen Harper.

The three officers were awarded for jumping in the Anderson Cottonwood Irrigation District canal and rescuing a 15-year-old girl in May. Before the officers got there, the girl was pinned against a canal cross-section. Harper and Maxwell secured a line around her and Day helped pull her out.

Youth Hero: Cody Mahrt.

Cody rescued a teenager struggling to swim across the Sacramento River in Anderson. The 14-year old boy heard a call for help, jumped into his family’s jet boat and fished the teen out of the water.

Medical Hero: Christopher Lin.

Dr. Lin opened up a surgical eye center in Gabon, Africa. The Ophthalmologist from the Shasta Eye Medical Group donates money and time to the center, helping train surgical staff and buying new equipment for the center.

Education hero: Teri Downey and Karen Kinner.

The two women came together because they both lost daughters to cancer 14 years ago. Since then, the Red Bluff duo has been organizing blood drives at Sacred Heart Church in Red Bluff. Downey and Kinner say the changes they saw in their daughters when they were given blood transfusions has motivated their work in the community.

Animal Rescue: Lee Ann Smith

The Haven Humane Animal Regulation Department captain has spent her career helping animals in our area. According to Haven Humane, Capt. Smith is always the lead when it comes to rescuing animals in the aftermath of local disasters. She has also started an animal obedience training camp teaching kids to prepare shelter dogs for adoption.

Public Service: Lori Coate.

As a volunteer with several Shasta County organizations Lori described exactly what makes her a hero, "if you need help, call me." Coate works with the Chamber of Commerce in both Redding and Anderson in addition to helping the Lyons Club with their Reach Air golf tournament fundraiser.

Family Hero: Makala Wilcox.

The 7-year old girl woke her mom and great aunt when she found her 3-year old sister cold and not breathing earlier this year. As the women called for help, Makala went outside to guide the paramedics into their family's driveway. Makala's family says if it wasn't for the girl's quick thinking, her little sister would have died from the severe asthma attack she went through.

Fallen Hero: Tyler Vietti.

All gave some; some gave all, that's how friends and family described the sacrifice made by the Central Valley High School grad. The 21-year old was killed when he stepped on a roadside bomb in Afghanistan this past September. He was remembered as a standout athlete at CVHS, playing football, basketball and baseball. His brother accepted the award for him, describing him as a great role model, especially to his newborn child.

Tehama County Sheriff's Investigators are looking into the deaths of a Cottonwood couple. It appears to be a murder-suicide.

Officials say it started when John and Pamela Vannoy got into a fight at their Cottonwood home Sunday night.

Pamela called 9-1-1, saying her husband was trying to harm her. That is when the 9-1-1 dispatcher reportedly heard shots being fired. Officials then say that John Vannoy can be heard saying he had shot his wife.

By the time emergency crews got to the home, both John and his wife were dead. The Tehama County Sheriff's Department is not officially calling this a murder-suicide, but they do say the Vannoys are the only people they are looking at.

Autopsies were performed on Tuesday night.

Look out for more cuts to Shasta County's budget. But this time, Chief Administrative Officer Larry Lees says public safety should be largely spared. In an update to supervisors Tuesday morning, Lees said even pessimistic budget projections were optimistic.

Two important State revenue streams to public safety are off by 20% and 27%, leaving the county budget $2.5-3 million short this year, and a gap of $7 million over the next 18 months.

To avoid cutting the Sheriff's Department, Lees is hoping some of the County's labor unions will be willing to make concessions.

A Butte County man who got a 12-year old girl drunk and molested her in June was sentenced Tuesday morning. A judge gave Terrence Jenkins 8 years in prison for the crime.

Jenkins pleaded no contest to a child molestation charge in September. He was arrested after the girl told authorities about him getting her drunk and taking advantage of her.

He will be forced to serve at least 85% of the sentence before he is eligible for parole. He must also pass a psychological evaluation before he can be released to the public.

The Town of Paradise is thinking about some changes that could save them money. There are four pending retirements right now, including Fire Chief Mark Haunschild.

The town might reorganize the staff and possibly close the fire station on Pearson Road, except during high fire danger. Officials say that would mean saving money and more staffing on engines at the other three stations during low fire danger.

The Paradise Town Council will talk about the proposed reorganization during Tuesday's meeting at the Town Hall. It starts at 6 PM.

A new decision by FEMA could save homeowners in southern Butte County thousands of dollars a year in flood insurance. FEMA has accepted an appeal about the new floodplain maps in the southern part of the county to remove Gridley and Biggs from the new designated floodplain. The designation would have required homeowners in those areas to purchase flood insurance.

However, the move may only be temporary. The cities could be placed back in the floodplain in the next two years, when the California Department of Water Resources establishes new base flood elevations.

The second free H1N1 flu vaccine clinics in Shasta County will take place this weekend. Children from 6 months through 18 years of age and caregivers of those under 6 months old are eligible to receive the vaccine.

The FREE clinics will be Saturday, November 14th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Shasta High School, Central Valley High School and Anderson High School. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by their parent or guardian. If you are on Medi-Cal, please bring your card.

Children age 9 and younger will need a second dose of the vaccine three to four weeks after the first dose. Check with your child’s doctor or visit another school-based clinic, held in the first half of December, to meet that need.

For more information, contact your health care provider or visit www.shastaflushots.com for updates.