Chain Restrictions on Northstate Highways
Snow in the mountains at different locations in the Northstate are forcing chain restrictions.
Here are the restrictions currently in place:
- Highway 299 near Burney are requiring chains or snow tires
- Highway 3 between Weaverville and Hayfork
- Highway 44 east of Shingletown
- Highway 36 near Mineral
For the most up to date information, go to the CalTrans website here.
UPDATED: Shelby Allen Case Dismissed
The case has been dismissed against a 17-year-old Redding girl accused in the drinking death of Shelby Lyn Allen. Late Thursday afternoon, the judge dismissed the charges including one count of felony manslaughter and two misdemeanors involving providing alcohol to a minor.
Shelby Lyn Allen was found dead in a Palo Cedro home last December after a night of drinking with friends in the accused girl's home. Prosecutors argued her friend didn't do enough to save Shelby's life but the judge ruled the girl did not do anything to make the situation worse and, therefore, the charges could not stand.
In an interview with KRCR News Channel 7, Steve Allen, Shelby's father said ,"We'll never have closure about losing our daughter but my family's life is the same yesterday before concluding the trial as it was today and as it will be tomorrow after the trial's concluded. This has absolutely no effect on my family's life other than it was distracting us from our educational message."
Driver Crashes into Building
A Butte County man was arrested for DUI after driving his car into a building in Chico on Thursday. William Speer of Oroville reportedly drove his Jaguar through a breezeway and into a medical building on Rio Lindo Avenue just after 11am.
The crash did break some glass doors in the medical building but it did not cause much structural damage. Witnesses say they watched Speer turn like he was going to park right inside of the building. No one was seriously hurt in the crash.
Police are still looking for an unidentified female passenger who fled the scene after the accident.
Murdered Red Bluff Police Officer Remembered on Anniversary of Death
In Red Bluff on Thursday, the men and women of the Red Bluff Police Department took time to remember a dark day in the force's history. Seven years ago, one of their fellow officers was murdered; it was a case of the officer being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Officer Dave Mobilio was gunned down while gassing up his patrol car on Main Street. His admitted and convicted killer says he did it to protest police brutality.
Chief Paul Nanfito says his officers are making sure not to relive that horrible day, but are careful to never forget. They wore black bands on their badges in remembrance, while they went about their business.
They use that day as a training tool for new officers. It serves as a reminder that their job is a dangerous one.
Nanfito also says his department stays in contact with Dave Mobilio's widow and child and always will.
Dave Mobilio's killer, Andrew Mickel, is in San Quentin on death row.
Butte County First Swine Flu Death
Butte County has its first swine flu death. Public Health officials announced that a man over the age of 65 died two weeks ago at an area hospital.
The victim had previous health problems, which most likely contributed to the death. Butte County now joins Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity Counties. All of them have had one person die from the illness.
California as a whole has had at least 298 people die from the swine flu.
Dinner Train Announces End of Service
The Shasta Sunset Dinner Train will be shutting down at the end of the year. The owners announced the closure mid-November. The last rides will be offered in December.
The train has been in service for 13 years, and runs from McCloud to Mount Shasta City. They are selling the business, so someone could possibly continue the train.
Local Airports Not Affected By F.A.A. Computer Glitch
Neither the Redding nor the Chico Municipal Airports were affected by a computer glitch reported by the F.A.A. early this morning. The problem involved two F.A.A. systems in Atlanta and Salt Lake City that handled automatic flight plans. The glitch caused a "domino effect" around the country, delaying flights and cancelling others. The problem, now fixed, forced air-traffic controllers to manually enter flight plans, which is much more time-consuming.
Shasta County Jail Inmate Dies
Shasta County Sheriff's Investigators are looking into the death of an inmate at the Shasta County Jail.
Officials say 62 year old Thomas Chandler, of Alaska, passed out in a housing unit around eleven Wednesday morning.
Jail staff gave him CPR and he was taken to the hospital where he died.
It's believed he had a medical condition and no foul play is expected.
Chandler had been in jail since last week on drug charges.
Christmas for the Troops
Christmas for the Troops, a fundraiser organized by local veterans groups, will be Saturday, November 21. A pasta dinner will be served before volunteers help to build care packages for troops overseas. The event starts at 5PM at the Shasta County Veterans Hall, 1605 Yuba Street, Redding. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children and can be purchased at Tobacco & Brew, Leatherby's Family Creamy and Holiday Quality Foods. For more information, please contact Charlee Thompson at (530) 402-7149.
Butte DA Sweeps Up Bad Checks
Bad checks will not be tolerated in Butte County. That was the message that District Attorney Mike Ramsey delivered Wednesday afternoon, as he announced the results of the County's annual bad check sweep.
11 people from 5 counties are in custody after being arrested for writing bad checks which totaled nearly $8,500. Ramsey says he has heard just about every excuse from suspects when they get caught.
He said, “One man in particular indicated that he was so drunk, he didn't remember writing the check so he couldn't be held responsible for it. We held him responsible for the check.”
Seven other suspects remain at large. Anyone with any information about bad check writers is asked to contact the District Attorney's Fraud Hotline at 1-866-DAFRAUD.
Orland Citizens Upset at Water Bottling Plant
Property owners who were concerned about the effects of a proposed bottled water plant in Glenn County were out in full force at a public hearing on Wednesday.
Members of the Orland Technical Advisory Committee spent over five hours listening to questions and concerns about the plant being proposed by Crystal Geyser.
Opponents of the project say the plant could lead to significant depletion of the local aquifer, the saturated zone beneath the water table, as well as creating numerous other problems such as noise and pollution. They say the possibility of new jobs in the area is not worth the potential cost to the community.
Crystal Geyser is expected to issue a written response to questions and concerns raised at the meeting by the end of the month. The Technical Advisory Committee will take up the issue again on December 16th.
Chico Wal-Mart Project Denied
The Chico City Council has made a final decision on the Wal-Mart extension project. In a 4-3 decision, the proposal was rejected for the second time in six weeks.
Officials say concern over traffic and air quality impacts led to their decision. Wal-Mart can apply for an expansion again after one year, but would have to start the permitting process over from the beginning.
AS SEEN ON KRCR-TV
Vicks Recall
For information on the Vicks Sinex Vapospray 12-hour Decongestant recall, click here
Local Headlines
Returning Salmon Numbers Low
Preliminary data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows that the fall run of Chinook salmon returning to the Coleman Fish Hatchery, outside Anderson, is only about 60 percent of what it was last year.
Scott Hamelberg, the project leader, says about 8,000 returned this year.
Of those, about 5,000 were used during the spawning season.
Last year, about 14,000 returned to Battle Creek, with nearly 10,000 entering the hatchery.
Immigrants Sworn In as American Citizens in Redding
It was a reminder Thursday afternoon that what most of us take for granted most of the time is very special to a group of people.
For what is believed to be the first time ever, the Oath of Allegiance was taken in the Federal Courthouse in Redding by 16 new U.S. citizens from all over the globe. They are from Mexico, the Philippines, India, Canada, Kenya, the Czech Republic, and Saudi Arabia.
To become an American citizen, they have to show knowledge of U.S. history and government. They came from all over the Northstate: Redding, Chico, Corning and elsewhere.
If you are interested in becoming an American citizen, there is a workshop Thursday night at the First Presbyterian Church on Placer Street in Redding. It starts at 6:30pm.
Air Show Proceeds Handed Out
Just about six weeks ago, temperatures soared, along with the planes, at the Redding Air Show. On Thursday, profits from the event landed in the hands of groups in need.
The Redding Exchange club donated $60,000 dollars from the Air Show to local charities and non-profits during a luncheon at Win River. Nearly 50 groups were given checks for helping with this year's Air Show.
With this year's donations, the amount the Air Show has given back to the community tops more than $900,000.
Anderson Extends Marijuana Moratorium
The City of Anderson extended their moratorium on marijuana collectives Tuesday night. Council members voted to add another 4 months to the current moratorium.
That will give officials time to write up a permanent solution. The Planning Commission will host a workshop in December to come up with ideas.
Officials tell us there was some talk about a complete ban on marijuana, but no decision was made last night about that.
