FAA warns public against shooting guns at drones

WASHINGTON — People who fire guns at drones are endangering the public and property and could be prosecuted or fined, the Federal Aviation Administration warned today.

The FAA released a statement in response to questions about an ordinance under consideration in the tiny farming community of Deer Trail, Colo., that would encourage hunters to shoot down drowns. The administration reminded the public that it regulates the nation's airspace, including the airspace over cities and towns.

A drone "hit by gunfire could crash, causing damage to persons or property on the ground, or it could collide with other objects in the air," the statement said. "Shooting at an unmanned aircraft could result in criminal or civil liability, just as would firing at a manned airplane."

Under the proposed ordinance, Deer Trail would grant hunting permits to shoot drones. The permits would cost $25 each. The town would also encourage drone hunting by awarding $100 to anyone who presents a valid hunting license and identifiable pieces of a drone that has been shot down.

Deer Trail resident Phillip Steel, 48, author of the proposal, said in an interview that he has 28 signatures on a petition — roughly 10 percent of the town's registered voters. Under Colorado law, that requires local officials to formally consider the proposal at a meeting next month. Town officials would then have the option of adopting the ordinance or putting it on the ballot in an election this fall, he said.

The proposed ordinance is mostly a symbolic protest against small, civilian drones that are coming into use in the United States, Steel said. He acknowledged that it's unlikely there are any drones in use near Deer Trail.

"I don't want to live in a surveillance society. I don't feel like being in a virtual prison," Steel said. "This is a pre-emptive strike."

He dismissed the FAA's warning. "The FAA doesn't have the power to make a law," he said.

Clark Road Construction to start Friday

Traffic delays at Clark and Pearson are expected to lengthen starting Friday. (Rick Silva/The Post)

If drivers thought the traffic at the intersection of Clark and Pearson Road was backed up due the road construction on Pearson, it's likely to get worse before it gets better.

CALTrans announced today that starting Friday night at 10 p.m., Knife River Construction will begin work on at the Clark and Pearson Road intersection.

Knife River will grind out the asphalt, removing a 4" layer and then repave with hot asphalt mix by Saturday morning and possibly into the afternoon. The proposed work for this weekend should be completed in less than 24 hours.

The work begins major roadwork on Highway 191 that will include guardrail work and the repaving of the 11-mile stretch of Highway 70 junction and Pearson Road in Paradise. The work is scheduled to continue into September. Motorists can expect intermittent from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays starting Friday.

Roadside message boards will post the latest updates events. Unexpected weather or other events may prolong or cause the work to be rescheduled.

Residents traveling Clark Road and Highway 191 should be prepared for detours and delays of up to 10 minutes while this project is being constructed. There will be temporary traffic controls through the intersection. Motorists should drive carefully and be on the lookout for these traffic control signs, flaggers and equipment. All motorists are asked obey all instructions from the traffic control personnel they encounter and that they be patient during this project.The Highway 191 work is being done the same time the town is reconstructing Pearson Road from Academy Drive to Clark. That will put a light at Recreation Drive and Pearson and take it from four lanes to three with a turn lane in the middle.

The town expects the roadway to be finished prior to school opening in late August.

Bille Overlay starts Monday

Drivers along Bille Road should also take heed of construction works. The town announced that on Monday, July 22, Folsom Lake Asphalt of Rancho Cordova, CA will begin work for the Bille Road Asphalt Overlay Project between Posey Lane and Fern Lane.

This road rehabilitation project includes asphalt grinding to conform to existing roadway elevations and driveways, a 2" leveling course of asphalt, roadway striping and placement of recessed reflective markers.

Residents are advised that temporary traffic control will be implemented during construction including flaggers and short delays in and out of the project area.

Construction is scheduled for completion by the end of July. This project is jointly funded by the Town of Paradise and Paradise Irrigation District.

Striping Project to start

In addition to some of the road construction in town, drivers will see some road striping work.

The Town of Paradise Public Works Division, in conjunction with Butte County Public Works Department, will begin centerline striping and lane line operations on the most heavily traveled roadways, starting July 22, and continue through the end of July (weather permitting).

The town wants to complete the re-striping of most of the major roads in the Town as well as some of the secondary roads.

Motorists approaching a striping operation from behind will have plenty of warning. First they will see "CAUTION - WET PAINT" and "DO NOT PASS" signs. Next will be a "shadow" vehicle with flashing lights and "CAUTION - WET PAINT" and "DO NOT PASS" signs. Finally the striper truck, which sprays the paint stripes and glass beads onto the roadway, will have flashing amber lights.

Motorists should use caution when they encounter a road striping operation. Do not drive across the wet paint stripes, and do not pass the follow vehicle. Although the manufacturer claims the paint will dry in less than 10 seconds under ideal conditions, vehicle tires will likely track the paint if crossed when it is still wet. This tracking will not only make the finished striping job look sloppy, but the paint will likely damage a vehicle's paint job if not cleaned off quickly.

As always, drive carefully and use caution when crews are out in the roadway. They are working hard to provide safe, well-marked roadways to help drivers get to their destination safely.

Roads to be restriped:

Neal Road - Skyway to south town limits Foster Road - Pearson Road to Wayland Road Clark Road - Elliott Road to North of Wagstaff Road Pearson Road - Clark Road to Stearns Road Wagstaff Road - Skyway to Pentz Road Pentz Road - South town limits to Ponderosa School Bille Road - Clark Road to Pentz Road

(Article comes from http://www.paradisepost.com)

The Graduate: Restaurant and Bar!

The Graduate is a great place to go when you are looking for some nice grub or a good drink.  They offer plenty of seating, a large variety of bar-styled food to fill your belly and wrap it all together with a classy environment.  Many TV's are stations throughout The Graduate allowing anyone to view their sports team while having a great conversation with a friend.  Arcade games for the kids and even a pool table allow this place to be perfect for a family gathering as well.  Try out their burgers or tri-tip, they are both excellent!

I give them a 5/5 for the great service, food and excellent atmosphere.

The Struggling Youth Of Butte County

Living in Butte County can be extremely difficult for young individuals in this day and age.  Much of the region is dedicated to elderly retirement yet is surrounded by drugs, alcohol binge drinking, massive college parties and recent gang violence.  Any of these things can take an excellent youth and drag them down.  I am in no way saying that people who drink or use marijuana can't succeed in this world.  But overindulgence can  cause a massive side-track of their life and change their attitude on the world.  In this economy having those kind of distractions can break a young man or woman's entire future.  Some of the young adults in the region however have chosen the right path and are working, tax paying and excellent role-models for our small society.  We need to really band together and help promote a generation of success and individuality rather than telling them to follow the crowd and end in the overall downhill spiral.

Oroville Father Charged For 16-month-old's DEATH

A father of what would have been a 16 month old baby boy that had died 2 1/2 years ago with severe head injuries appeared in court Monday for the death of the toddler

Butte County Superior Court Judge Michael Deems arraigned Michael Leslie Dollar, 25, of Bangor, on a felony count of assault on a child leading to death.

If convicted, Dollar could be sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison. Dollar did not enter a plea, but asked if he could choose a court-appointed attorney to represent him.

Deems told Dollar he could retain private counsel, but the court-appointed attorneys are selected at random. The judge appointed defense attorney Mark Stapleton to represent Dollar.

Dollar's next court appearance is this morning, when he may enter an initial plea.

The charges stem from a Nov. 11, 2010, event where Dollar and his girlfriend took 16-month-old Deagan Jackson to the emergency room at Oroville Hospital with unknown injuries. Hospital officials called the police department and reported the child had a grave head injury, according to earlier reports.

The child was transferred to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, but was pronounced dead the next morning.

Dollar lived with the boy in Oroville at the time of the incident. Dollar initially told police the boy had been playing in a bedroom with his 2 1Ž2-year-old half-brother and that he believed Deagan had fallen out of his bed, District Attorney Mike Ramsey stated in a press release.

An autopsy determined the causeof death was blunt-force trauma. The child's skull was fractured in five places, Ramsey said.

Oroville Police Department has been investigating the case for two years.

Deputy district attorney Jennifer Dupre-Tokos said on Monday investigators had worked to eliminate possible causes of death while investigating other factors. She said a recent discovery of additional evidence led to the filing of charges.

Dollar was arrested Thursday in Bangor.

Dollar is in custody at Butte County Jail with bail set at $1 million. Judge Deems also ordered that the defendant stay away from Dollar's two children and Deagan's mother.

Article Revised from Chicoer.com information

Paradise woman hit by car, transported to Enloe

image from the scene

A 39 year-old Paradise woman was hit on Friday night at about 7 p.m. while riding her bike out of the Safeway parking lot onto Elliott Road. Deanna Bau was leaving the parking lot when she was hit by a black Dodge truck traveling east toward Clark Road. The truck was driven by Oscar Torres, 31 of Corning. 

“The bicyclist was coming out of the Safeway parking lot and failed to stop at the posted stop sign, and came into the lane and was stuck by the pickup truck,” Paradise Police Officer Robert Wright said. 

Bau was flown to Enloe Medical Center to be treated for compound fractures and possible internal injuries, Wright said. Torres was in Paradise at the time of the accident to drop off a bounce house, passenger Danielle Halvorson, 31 of Corning said. “Witnesses say that she was drinking a soda and was on her phone when she hit him,” Halvorson said about the accident. Police agreed, and said that "from what they understand" Bau was allegedly heavily distracted, Wright said. Bau was allegedly in the wrong lane while riding out of the parking lot, he said. The driver and passenger of the vehicle said that they are wishing for the best for Bau. 

“We are really shook up,” Halvorson said. “We are hoping she is OK.” The accident is still under investigation, said officers when questioned.

Article is a courtesy of By Nicole Gerspacher -- Staff Writer from Paradise Post

More images can be found here

It's No Walk In The Park

"It's No Walk in The Park"

Abuse Victims Memorial Walk

This walk is being held in rememberance of the women who suffered the catastrophic emotional pain, and lost their lives and the children caught in the crossfire in the horrific tragedy of Family Violence and Domestic Abuse.

Join us in our walk as we remember these beautiful women and children who were not fortunate enough to become survivors. As we honor their memory by coming together to stand up and speak out against about the realities of abuse.

So Stand Up, Speak Out, and Reach Out with us:

July 21st 2013

8:30AM-10:30AM

at

 "One Mile Recreation Area"

Bidwell Park

E 5th St. and Woodland Ave.

Chico CA 95928

For more information please call:

(530)743-7823

This event will be followed by:

Prevention Awareness

1st Annual "A Day in the Park" Family Carnival

10:30AM to 4:00PM

Please bring the family down and enjoy, live music, great food, bounce houses, obsticle course, games, face painting  and much more!

100% of Proceeds from this event will contribute to:

Victim Services and Abuse Prevention Programs