Redding Record Searchlight

The discovery Friday of 171⁄2 pounds of suspected heroin stashed in the bumper of a car traveling on Interstate 5 could be a record haul of the illegal drug. “I think this is going to be the biggest (heroin bust) in Shasta County history,” said Capt. Dave Compomizzo of the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office.

The stash of tape- and plastic-wrapped, ready-to-inject “tar heroin” is worth $2.8 million on the street, said Les James, acting commander of the California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team.

Q. Economic issues are of concern to many Americans. Does your faith tradition address the issues of poverty and prosperity?

If you are going to grab one of the twins, you might as well take them both.

• Group plans event at Yaks • Local churches to have a B.L.A.S.T.' • Unitarians plan picnic potluck • Bible school slated at school • Gospel concert date arranged • Film explores oil industry • Author's message to be broadcast

ARCATA -- The Southern Oregon RiverDogs racked them up and Redding Colt .45s pitcher Devon Kreyenhagen sat them down Friday.

Smoke hung thick throughout the north state Friday, grounding most firefighting aircraft and raising health warnings.

SACRAMENTO -- An injured and dehydrated American black bear cub rescued Thursday by a firefighter in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest west of Redding is recovering.

HAYFORK -- A possible propane tank explosion Friday morning injured three people in a mobile home.

Sean McCune enjoys strolling from his Garden Tract home to the Starbucks Coffee at Civic Center Plaza, across Cypress Avenue from Redding City Hall.

They're called Task Force Pick, and they're here to fight fires.

A Shasta County woman accused of murdering her ex-husband and leaving his decomposing body near her secluded campsite for almost a week pleaded guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison.

Healthy Shasta's family-themed farmers market event will continue as planned today despite the smoky air.

RED BLUFF -- The work of more than 30 local artists will be exhibited during a reception Friday at The Big Picture Custom Framing at 857 Washington St.

A reward of up to $500 is being offered by Secret Witness of Shasta County for help in solving a burglary of the snack shack and vandalism at the Redding Aquatic Center.

Redding's Household Hazardous Waste Facility is accepting "sharps" -- such as needles, syringes and lancets from home use -- at its Abernathy Lane site.

Sheila Grudem of the United Nations will present the program, "Winning the War on Hunger," at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Redding Library.

BloodSource North State will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Bethel Church in Redding.

Today is Saturday, July 19, the 201st day of 2008. There are 165 days left in the year.

Lord, how long, how long must we be subjected to the abusive, misguided, hateful ranting of homophobes disguised as “opinion”? Would the Record Searchlight even consider printing such nonsense in support of racism?

Betty McCary contacted the newspaper recently to let us know her husband was growing a banana tree in their Redding yard -- and that it had bananas on it.