Latest news with #Redding.com
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What Vietnam looks like 50 years after the fall of Saigon: A picture journey
Redding freelance photojournalist Hung T. Vu is in Vietnam for the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the unification of the country under the North's communist government. The anniversary to the end of the Vietnam War and surrounding events falls on Wednesday, April 30. Follow Vu's journey to his home country in the Record Searchlight/ For his personal essay reflecting on the final days of the war and his dangerous escape by boat from Vietnam to a refugee camp, click here. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: What Saigon looks like since Vietnam War ended: A pictorial reflection
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spoiler: Redding isn't getting an ice arena. Here's what's next for old courthouse
The verdict is in on what Redding should do with the old Shasta County courthouse downtown, after the Record Searchlight's runoff poll closed on Tuesday. Did the majority who weighed in want a bigger jail? …more office space for county services? And the winner is: Ice rink, with 59.3% of the vote. The runoff showed readers heavily favored a recreational center, like an ice rink over a bigger jail — which received 24.2% of the vote, and a county office complex — which garnered 16.4% of the vote. But don't put on your sequined leotard or hockey mask yet. Other ideas are in the works, one county official said. Rather than tackle the expensive task of redeveloping the three-story Early Modernist building — built in 1956, Shasta County supervisors opted to demolish it. They also decided in March to postpone nailing down long-term plans for the Court Street property, and opted to table planning until later this year or in early 2026. The supervisors want some time to explore ideas, but possible short-term plans for the property include a green space and parking lot, said Public Works Director Troy Bartolomei. A challenge to funding a temporary park is grants that promise to match 50% of building costs expect the park to be there for the long haul, Bartolomei said. The county is still researching funding options, but won't likely agree to a long-term green space built on premium downtown land that could be worth more if used in other ways. A parking lot would be the most practical use. That would relieve some of Court Street's parking congestion for the public using county facilities, and for county staff, Bartolomei said. Parking lot or not, supervisors want to preserve the old courthouse's sloping green lawn, he said, and four memorials on the property. Those include the Pearl Harbor and Peace Officers memorials, and two memorial trees. For now, the next task is doing a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) study. That could take some time. The county started collecting proposals from consultants who want to do the study on April 18, according to Bartolomei. Bartolomei confirmed on Wednesday what he told supervisors in March. Demolition could begin as soon as summer 2026 and will cost about $5.3 million. Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at the Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know. The runoff of readers' top three favorite uses for the old courthouse property came after the initial poll closed on April 16. Uses that didn't get enough votes by last Wednesday to make it to the runoff included a farmers market space, a parking garage and an apartment building with retail stores on the main floor. Whatever supervisors decide to put on the old courthouse property, it won't likely be an ice rink, Bartolomei said. Redding's climate "would make that quite a challenge," both financially and mechanically, he said. Costs to maintain a year-round indoor ice arena can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars per year or more, according to online business estimates. Just buying refrigeration technology can run $60,000. So don't expect to see glam figure skating sports commentator duo Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir dropping in for steaks at Jack's Grill anytime soon. But he also understands why people want one, said Bartolomei, who grew up in Ukiah, near Santa Rosa's Redwood Empire Ice Arena. The indoor ice rink was built and bankrolled in the 1960s by Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz. "It was there because Charles Schulz wanted it" and paid for it, Bartolomei said. Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding's old courthouse likely to be turned into park, not ice rink
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who should lead Shasta County Elections Office? Readers who voted have a favorite
Record Searchlight/ readers have spoken on who they think should be Shasta County's next clerk and registrar of voters. Readers who took the unscientific poll picked overwhelmingly Joanna Francescut, who is the assistant clerk and registrar of voters. Of the 1,639 votes cast, nearly 90%, or 1,446, voted for Francescut. Coming in a distant second was former District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones, who had 91 votes. Clint Curtis came in third with 78 votes. Curtis was a finalist for the job last summer and the preferred candidate of Supervisor Chris Kelstrom and Jones. Both ended up joining Supervisor Kevin Crye in the 3-2 vote that gave Tom Toller the job. Curtis is a lawyer from Florida, former computer programmer and a self-described elections expert who has advocated returning to hand-counting ballots. Bob Holsinger came in fourth place with 13 votes, followed by other with 11 votes. He ran against former ROV Cathy Darling Allen in June 2022. Darling Allen received nearly 70% of the vote in defeating her challenger. Of those that chose other, two wrote in Laura Hobbs and one wrote in Richard Gallardo. Hobbs has twice sued the county registrar voters, alleging unverified evidence of fraud. In October 2020, Gallardo gained notoriety when during the board's public comment period he made a citizen's arrest on all five supervisors and then-County Counsel Rubin Cruse Jr. over COVID-19 restrictions. The poll was open from March 31 to April 6. Jones on Monday said he is considering applying for the job but will not decide until April 18, which is two days before the deadline to apply. 'I will look at the list (of applicants) and make my decision then,' Jones told the Record Searchlight in a text message. Francescut, a veteran of the election office after more than 16 years on the job, applied for the top position of her department after her boss, Cathy Darling Allen, retired. But the Board of Supervisors passed her over and picked Tom Toller, who at that time was in semi-retirement from his job as a former prosecutor. Nonetheless, Francescut stayed on in her role as Toller's assistant. Francescut has not said publicly if she will apply. Toller is endorsing Francescut to be his successor after he retires at the end of April. Supervisors will conduct interviews with job candidates during a public meeting tentatively scheduled for April 30. David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He's part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Who should lead Shasta elections office? Joanna Francescut, poll says
