News 6/30/10

CAREGIVER SAVES MAN FROM BURNING HOME JKB 6/30/10

• A CAREGIVER SAVED A DISABLED LUCERNE MAN WHEN HIS MOBILE HOME CAUGHT FIRE LATE MONDAY NIGHT.

THE BLAZE BROKE OUT IN THE REAR OF THE TRAILER SHORTLY BEFORE MIDNIGHT AND QUICKLY CONSUMED THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE, AN OUT BUILDING AND DAMAGED NEIGHBORING MOBILE HOMES ON BOTH SIDES. THE HOMEOWNER WAS TAKEN TO SUTTER LAKESIDE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE FOR POSSIBLE BURNS AND BREATHING PROBLEMS. HE WAS LATER AIRLIFTED TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. NO WORD YET ON HIS CONDITION. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE MANS CIGARETTE USED NEAR AN OXYGEN TANK MAY HAVE POSSIBLY SPARKED THE FIRE. EXPLODING OXYGEN BOTTLES HAMPERED SUPPRESSION EFFORTS BY FIREFIGHTERS. THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE FIRE IS CONTINUING.

STATEWIDE CRIME RATES DECLINE JKB 6/30/10

• ACCORDING TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE STATE WIDE CRIME HAS RATE DROPPED 6.6%.

LAST YEARS DROP MARKED THE 3RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN WHICH VIOLENT CRIMES, PROPERTY CRIMES, LARCENY AND THEFT RATES HAVE ALL DECLINED. MENDOCINO COUNTY ALSO SAW DECLINES EVERY CATEGORY, INCLUDING DECREASES OF CLOSE TO 20% OR MORE IN BURGLARIES, VEHICLE THEFTS AND THEFTS IN EXCESS OF $400. HUMBOLDT COUNTY HOWEVER SAW A JUMP OF MORE THAN 17% IN VIOLENT CRIMES.

MAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN WIFES DEATH JKB 6/30/10

• A HUMBOLDT COUNTY MAN WHO MURDERED HIS WIFE IN A FIT OF RAGE AND THEN HID HER BODY, WAS SENTENCED TO ONLY 12 YEARS IN STATE PRISON YESTERDAY, UNDER A PLEA BARGAIN AGREEMENT WITH PROSECUTORS.

57 YEAR OLD ROBIN BRADSHAW PLEADED GUILTY TO ONE COUNT OF VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER IN THE DEATH OF 53 YEAR OLD MONICA BRADWHAW, WHO DISAPPEARED FROM THE COUPLES HOME IN MID AUGUST OF 2008. SHE WAS NEVER REPORTED MISSING. AN INVESTIGATION INTO HER DISAPPEARANCE BEGAN WHEN AN INSURANCE CLAIMS ADJUSTER BECAME SUSPICIOUS OF A CLAIM MADE ON HER CAR. BRADSHAW WAS ORIGINALLY CHARGED WITH MURDER, BUT PROSECUTORS DIDNT THINK THEY COULD WIN A CONVICTION WITHOUT MONICAS BRADSHAWS BODY. IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS PLEA, BRADSHAW REVEALED THE LOCATION WHERE HE BURIED HIS WIFE AFTER BEATING HER WITH A METAL BAR. MONICA BRADSHAWS FAMILY CALLED THE SENTENCE A SLAP IN THE FACE.

DEA OPERATING IN COUNTY JKB 6/30/10

• THE FEDERAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN OPERATING IN MENDOCINO COUNTY DURING THE PAST WEEK THAT OFFICIALS SAY COULD BE LINKED TO A LARGER STATEWIDE INVESTIGATION.

THE DEA ISSUED 16 WARRANTS STATEWIDE LAST WEEK. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE AGENCY SAID HOWEVER THAT DOCUMENTS CONCERNING THE DEAS ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES IN MENDOCINO COUNTY ARE UNDER SEAL AND CANNOT BE COMMENTED ON. GARDENS BUSTED BY COMMET LAST WEEK IN BOONVILLE, UKIAH AND REDWOOD VALLEY ARE NOT PART OF THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION.

GOVERNOR MOVES TO BAN WELFARE CARDS FROM CASINOS JKB 6/30/10

• FOLLOWING A NEWSPAPER EXPOSE ARTICLE THAT REVEALED WELFARE RECIPIENTS COULD USE THEIR STATE ISSUED BENEFIT DEBIT CARDS AT CASINOS, GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER IS MOVING TO ENSURE THE ATMS AT CASINOS CAN NO LONGER ACCEPT THE CARDS.

ACCORDING TO THE L.A. TIMES ARTICLE, WELFARE RECIPIENTS USED BENEFIT DEBIT CARDS AT MOST OF THE STATES 57 INDIAN CASINOS TO WITHDRAW MORE THAN $1.8 MILLION DOLLARS IN TAXPAYER CASH BETWEEN OCTOBER OF 2009 AND MAY OF 2010. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY IT COULD TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THE WELFARE CARDS ARE DEACTIVATED AT GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

MOTH CONTROL JKB 6/30/10

• PEST ERADICATION CREWS HAVE BEEN TREATING A RURAL AREA SOUTHEAST OF FRESNO THIS PAST WEEK IN AN ONGOING EFFORT TO CONTROL THE EUROPEAN GRAPEVINE MOTH.

FRUIT REMOVAL ACTIVITIES BEGAN JUNE 25TH IN THE DEL REY AREA NEAR FRESNO. PROPERTY OWNERS WHO PREFERRED ANOTHER OPTION COULD OPT FOR THE SECONDARY CHOICE OF GROUND TREATMENT WITH THE ORGANIC BACTERIAL COMPOUND BT. THE MOTH HAS BEEN DETECTED IN 7 CALIFORNIA COUNTIES INCLUDING MENDOCINO, NAPA AND SONOMA.

6 KILLED IN AMUSEMENT PARK ACCIDENT IN CHINA JKB 6/30/10

• 6 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND SEVERAL MORE WERE INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT AT A CHINESE AMUSEMENT PARK YESTERDAY.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS, ONE OF THE 11 CAPSULES ON THE SPACE JOURNEY RIDE CAME DETACHED, AND SLAMMED INTO SEVERAL OTHER CARS. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT IS UNKNOWN AND REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

HURRICANE ALEX UPDATE JKB 6/30/10

• HURRICANE ALEX IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL BY TONIGHT.

THE CATEGORY 1 STORM, WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF 80 MILES PER HOUR IS CURRENTLY ABOUT 200 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BROWNSVILLE TEXAS AND SLOWLY PICKING UP IN INTENSITY. The storm has continued to move away from the massive bp oil spill but was complicating cleanup efforts yesterday. The storm generated 12 foot waves and oil skimming ships were sent back to port. crews have also been forced to replace and reorganize booms meant to prevent oil from reaching the mainland.

E-QUAKE IN MEXICO JKB 6/30/10

• A STRONG EARTHQUAKE STUCK SOUTHERN MEXICO EARLY THIS MORNING.

the quake measured 6.2 in magnitude and was centered in a fairly remote region 220 miles south south east of mexico city. so far there have been no reports of damage, deaths or injuries.

boy drowns at home of nfl great jkb 6/30/10

• a 2 year old boy drowned at a home that property records indicate, is owned by former nfl star randall cunningham.

while las vegas police would not confirm the identity of the homes resident, they did say the child is the son of the property owner. according to police, the child was found floating in a hot tub just before 5 pm yesterday. cunningham was not at the property at the time of the incident.

Playlist 6/29/10

B.O.B. W/HAYLEY WILLIAMS-AIRPLANES

KESHA-YOUR LOVE IS MY DRUG

LAROUX-BULLETPROOF

PERRY, KATY W/SNOOP DOGG-CALIFORNIA GURLS

TIAO CRUZ FEAT. LUDACRIS-BREAK YOUR HEART

USHER W/WILL.I.AM-OMG

3OH!3 W/KESHA-MY FIRST KISS

B.O.B. W/BRUNO MARS-NOTHING ON YOU

BIEBER, JUSTIN-SOMEBODY TO LOVE

BLACK EYED PEAS-ROCK THAT BODY

BUBLE’, MICHAEL-HAVEN’T MET YOU YET

CYRUS, MILEY-CAN’T BE TAMED

DERULO, JASON-IN MY HEAD

DERULO, JASON-RIDIN’ SOLO

DRAKE-FIND YOUR LOVE

IGLESIAS, ENRIQUE W/PITBULL-I LIKE IT

JAY Z W/MR. HUDSON-YOUNG FOREVER

LADY GAGA-ALEJANDRO

MC COY, TRAVIE-BILLIONAIRE

POSNER, MIKE-COOLER THAN ME

RIHANNA-RUDE BOY

SHONTELLE-IMPOSSIBLE

THE SCRIPT-BREAKEVEN

TRAIN-HEY SOUL SISTER

CRUZ, TAIO-DYNAMITE

EMINEM-NOT AFRAID

GUETTA, DAVID W/FERGIE AND CHRIS WILLIS-GETTIN’ OVER YOU

NE YO-BEAUTIFUL MONSTER

NICKELBACK-THIS AFTERNOON

PARAMORE-THE ONLY EXCEPTION

TIMBALAND W/KATY PERRY-IF WE EVER MEET AGAIN

WE THE KINGS-WE’LL BE A DREAM

CARTEL-THE PERFECT MISTAKE

COSGROVE, MIRANDA-KISSIN U

COURY, TINO-DIARY

EMINEM W/RIHANNA-LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE

HOT CHELLE RAE-BLEED

LAMBERT, ADAM-IF I HAD YOU

THE SCRIPT-THE MAN WHO CAN’T BE MOVED

WHITE TIE AFFAIR-YOU LOOK BETTER WHEN I’M DRUNK

News 6/29/10

FINAL ELECTION RESULTS JKB 6/29/10

• THE FINAL ELECTION RESULTS FOR MENDOCINO COUNTYS PRIMARY ELECTION ON JUNE 8TH WERE RELEASED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND SHOWED NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE OUTCOMES.

IN THE RACE FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE BOTH MEREDITH LINTOTT AND DAVID EYSTER GAINED IN PERCENTAGE POINTS OVER CANDIDATE MATT FINNEGAN. THEY WILL FACE EACH OTHER IN A RUN OFF ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. IN THE RACE FOR 5TH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR DAN HAMBURG INCREASED HIS LEAD OVER 2ND PLACE FINISHER WENDY ROBERTS SETTING UP A SHOWDOWN IN THE FALL ELECTION AS WELL. ANOTHER RUN OFF WAS CONFIRMED YESTERDAY IN THE THIRD DISTRICT SUPERVISORS RACE BETWEEN INCUMBENT JOHN PINCHES AND CHALLENGER HOLLY MADRIGAL, WITH MADRIGAL GAINING SLIGHTLY IN PERCENTAGE POINTS. ANN MOORMAN ESTABLISHED HER WIN OVER KAREN CALLAHAN FOR SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE GARNERING MORE THAN 66% OF THE VOTE. SCHOOL BOND MEASURES IN ANDERSON VALLEY AND WILLITS BOTH PASSED.

ZOO EARTHQUAKES JKB 6/29/10

• THE SAN FRANCISCO ZOO WAS SHAKEN BY A SERIES OF SMALL EARTHQUAKES YESTERDAY.

A 3.3 MAGNITUDE QUAKE STRUCK AN AREA 3 MILES WEST NORTH WEST OF THE ZOO AT 7:47 AM. IT WAS FOLLOWED BY QUAKES OF 2.0, 2.1, AND A PAIR OF 1.2 MAGNITUDE AFTERSHOCKS OVER THE NEXT 3 HOURS. THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF DAMAGE OR INJURIES.

TEEN BICYCLIST HIT BY CAR 6/29/10

• A 16 YEAR OLD BOY RIDING HIS BIKE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY A CAR NEAR THE ALEX THOMAS PLAZA SATURDAY NIGHT.

ACCORDING TO THE UKIAH POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE BOY RODE OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND DIRECTLY INTO THE PATH OF A CAR DRIVEN BY 29 YEAR OLD JAMES BASS OF UKIAH AT AROUND 9:20 PM. THE BOY SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES INCLUDING A HEAD INJURY. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE UKIAH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT. BASS WAS CITED FOR A PROBATION VIOLATION AND RELEASED.

SUSPECTED CHILD MOLESTER EXTRADITED FROM TEXAS JKB 6/29/10

• A WASHINGTON STATE MAN WAS EXTRADITED TO LAKE COUNTY FROM TEXAS ON SUNDAY AND CHARGED WITH CHILD MOLESTATION.

35 YEAR OLD FLORENTINO RAFFOLLA PARRA WAS ARRESTED FOR LEWD AND LASCIVIOUS ACTS WITH A CHILD, PLUS A SPECIAL ENHANCEMENT OF BEING 10 YEARS OR MORE OLDER THAN HIS VICTIM, WHO IS BELIEVED TO BE 14 OR 15 YEARS OLD. HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE LAKE COUNTY JAIL ON MONDAY. NO OTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE CASE HAVE BEEN RELEASED.

CHP OFFICERS KILLED IN SEPARATE ACCIDENTS JKB 6/29/10

• TWO CHP OFFICERS WERE KILLED ON THE SAME DAY OVER THE WEEKEND IN SEPARATE ACCIDENTS.

28 YEAR OLD OFFICER JUSTIN MCGRORY WAS STRUCK BY A MOTORIST DURING A TRAFFIC STOP IN INTERSTATE 15 IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. LATER THE SAME DAY 48 YEAR OLD OFFICER BRETT OSWALD, A 20 YEAR CHP VETERAN WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE AS HE WAITED NEXT TO HIS PATROL CAR WHILE AT THE SCENE OF A COLLISION IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY. THEIR DEATHS BRING TO 5 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CHP OFFICERS WHO HAVE DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS.

39 YEAR OLD OFFICER DANIEL BENAVIDEZ WAS KILLED MAY 7TH WHEN HIS FIXED WINGED AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN IMPERIAL COUNTY. 33 YEAR OLD MOTORCYCLE OFFICER THOMAS COLEMAN DIED DURING A VEHICLE PURSUIT WHEN HE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A TRACTOR TRAILER IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ON JUNE 11TH AND 48 YEAR OLD OFFICER PHILIP ORTIZ WAS KILLED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE DURING A TRAFFIC STOP IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY ON JUNE 22ND.

SEARCH CALLED OFF FOR MAN SWEPT AWAY IN RIVER JKB 6/29/10

• HUMBOLDT AND TRINITY COUNTY AUTHORITIES HAVE CALLED OFF THE SEARCH FOR A MAN WHO WAS SWEPT AWAY BY SWIFT MOVING WATER IN THE TRINITY RIVER NEAR SALYER ON FRIDAY.

ACCORDING TO POLICE, THE VICTIM, BELIEVED TO BE A 29 YEAR OLD EUREKA MAN, ENTERED THE RIVER TO SAVE HIS DOG AT AROUND 3:30 PM, WHICH GOT CAUGHT IN THE FAST MOVING CURRENT THAT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE MOVING AT BETWEEN 4,000 TO 5,000 CUBIC FEET PER SECOND. THE VICTIM WAS LAST SEEN BEING SWEPT PAST THE SOUTH FORK BRIDGE. A SEARCH OF A 5 MILE STRETCH OF RIVER BELOW WERE THE MAN DISAPPEARED YIELDED NO RESULTS. THE SEARCH WAS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF LACK OF VISIBILITY IN THE WATER. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY WILL RESUME THEIR EFFORTS WHEN CONDITIONS ALLOW.

POT BUST JKB 6/29/10

• A PAIR OF UKIAH BROTHERS WERE ARRESTED IN THE KELSEYVILLE AREA AFTER THEY WERE FOUND CAMPING IN THE MIDDLE OF 4 LARGE CLANDESTINE MARIJUANA GARDENS LAST THURSDAY.

31 YEAR OLD JAIME AND 27 YEAR OLD BENJAMIN BUSIO WERE ARRESTED AT THE SCENE WITHOUT INCIDENT. DEPUTIES ERADICATED A TOTAL OF 9,209 MARIJUANA PLANTS FROM 4 DIFFERENT GROW SITES MAINTAINED BY THE TWO MEN. AUTHORITIES SAY THE BROTHERS HAD DIVERTED WATER FROM KELSEY CREEK, AND BAGS OF FERTILIZER WERE LOCATED THROUGH OUT THE WATER SHED AREA. A DEAD BLACK BEAR WAS ALSO LOCATED NEAR ONE OF THE GROW SITES. BOTH MEN WERE BOOKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL ON MARIJUANA CULTIVATION AND POSSESSION CHARGES. THEY WERE ALSO CHARGED FOR FISH AND GAME VIOLATIONS FOR DIVERTING WATER AND POLLUTING WATER RESOURCES. BOTH MEN ARE BEING HELD ON $10,000 BAIL EACH AND IMMIGRATION HOLDS.

HIT & RUN ACCIDENT JKB 6/28/10

• A CLEARLAKE MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER HE FLED AN INJURY ACCIDENT ON FOOT LAST THUSDAY.

ACCORDING TO POLICE, 46 YEAR OLD RICHARD OLIVIERI RAN A STOP SIGN AND COLLIDED WITH A CAR AT AN INTERSECTION ON 10TH STREET IN THE CLEARLAKE PARK AREA AT AROUND 4:30 PM. THE DRIVER HE STRUCK SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. OLIVIERI FLED THE SCENE BUT WAS FOUND BY RESPONDING OFFICERS A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL FOR HIT AND RUN CAUSING INJURY.

DRIFT EIR ON CASINO RELEASED JKB 6/28/10

• THE PINOLEVILLE BAND OF POMO INDIANS HAVE RELEASED A DRAFT TRIBAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR A CASINO IT HOPES TO BUILD JUST NORTH OF THE UKIAH CITY LIMITS ON NORTH STATE STREET.

SEVERAL COUNTY AND STATE AGENCIES SUBMITTED COMMENTS VOICING THEIR CONCERNS OVER INCREASED TRAFFIC, LACK OF HOUSING FOR WORKERS, AND WATER, AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION. TRIBAL LEADERS SAY THE PROPOSED 90,000 SQUARE FOOT CASINO, 72,000 SQUARE FOOT HOTEL AND 5 LEVEL PARKING GARAGE WILL ATTRACT UP TO 3500 CUSTOMERS A DAY, EMPLOY MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE AND ALLOW THE TRIBE TO BE MORE ECONOMICALLY SELF SUFFICIENT. THE PUBLIC HAS 45 DAYS TO COMMENT ON THE PINOLEVILLE CASINO EIR.

GENERAL MCCHRYSTAL TO RETIRE JKB 6/29/10

• 4 STAR GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL, WHO WAS REMOVED LAST WEEK AS THE TOP U.S. AND COALITION FORCES MILITARY COMMANDER IN AFGHANISTAN HAS ANNOUNCED HE WILL RETIRE.

NO DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR HIS RETIREMENT. MCCHRYSTAL WAS RELIEVED OF HIS COMMAND ON WEDNESDAY BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AFTER IT WAS REVEALED THAT HE AND OTHER TOP MILITARY AIDES HAD MADE DISPARAGING REMARKS ABOUT HIGH RANKING CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, INCLUDING VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IN A ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE ARTICLE. GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS WAS NAMED TO REPLACE MCCHRYSTAL IN AFGHANISTAN.

SUPREME COURT RULING ON CHICAGOS GUN LAWS JKB 6/28/10

• IN A CLOSE 5 TO 4 VOTE, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS RULED THAT LAWS BANNING HANDGUN OWNERSHIP IN CHICAGO ILLINOIS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

IN THEIR RULING MONDAY, THE JUSTICES REITERATED THEIR 2 YEAR OLD CONCLUSION THAT THE CONSTITUTION GIVES INDIVIDUALS EQUAL OR GREATER POWER THAN STATES ON THE ISSUE OF POSSESSION OF CERTAIN FIREARMS FOR SELF PROTECTION. THE COURT SUPPORTED THEIR DECISION WITH THE DUE PROCESS SECTION OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT. THEY DID HOWEVER SAY THAT LOCAL JURISDICTIONS STILL RETAIN THE FLEXIBILITY TO PRESERVE SOME REASONABLE GUN CONTROL MEASURES CURRENTLY IN PLACE NATIONWIDE. JUSTICE STEPHEN BREYER, WHO WAS ONE OF THE DISSENTING VOTES, PREDICTED FAR REACHING IMPLICATIONS SAY THE RULING COULD CHANGE THE LAW IN AS MANY AS 50 STATES. GUN RIGHTS GROUPS APPLAUDED THE DECISION.

10 ARRESTED FOR SPYING JKB 6/29/10

• TEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY SPYING FOR RUSSIA.

THE SUSPECTS ARE SUSPECTED OF CARRYING OUT OR SUPPORTING LONG TERM DEEP COVER ASSIGNMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES. ALL HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO ACT AS AN AGENT OF A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF 5 YEARS IN STATE PRISON.

VAN DER SLOOT CLAIMS RIGHTS VIOLATIONS JKB 6/29/10

• JORAN VAN DER SLOOT SAYS HE WILL APPEAL AND TAKE HIS FIGHT TO THE PERUVIAN SUPREME COURT AND THE INTER AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN COSTA RICA IF NECESSARY AFTER PERUVIAN AUTHORITIES DENIED HIS CLAIM OF UNLAWFUL INCARCERATION LAST WEEK.

VAN DER SLOOT IS BEING HELD ON CHARGES OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND ROBBERY IN THE DEATH OF 21 YEAR OLD STEPHANY FLORES. VAN DER SLOOT CLAIMS HIS CIVIL RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED FOLLOWING HIS ARREST AND HE HAS SOUGHT TO HAVE HIS CONFESSION NULLIFIED. VAN DER SLOOT WAS ARRESTED AND RELEASED TWICE IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALABAMA TEENAGER NATALEE HOLLOWAY IN ARUBA IN 2005. HE WAS NEVER CHARGED IN THAT CASE DUE TO LACK OF EVIDENCE.

News 6/28/10

FATAL ACCIDENT JKB 6/28/10

• A HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE MAN WAS KILLED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED A U-TURN ON HIGHWAY 29 JUST NORTH OF GRANGE ROAD FIRDAY AFTERNOON.

ACCORDING TO THE CHP, 55 YEAR OLD JAMES DYMENT WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND WHEN HE PULLED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND THEN ATTEMPTED THE U-TURN MANEUVER AT AROUND 1:20 PM. HE PULLED DIRECTLY INTO THE PATH OF THE CAR THAT WAS FOLLOWING HIM, DRIVEN BY 40 YEAR OLD MICHAEL DAMIATA OF LAKEPORT. DAMIATA COLLIDED WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND DYMENT DIED AT THE SCENE. DAMIATA AND 3 PASSENGERS IN HIS CAR INCLUDING TWO CHILDREN AGES 9 AND 11 WERE TAKEN TO ST HELENA HOSPITAL IN CLEARLAKE FOR TREATMENT OF MINOR INJURIES.

D.A. CLOSES WILLITS OFFICE JKB 6/28/10

• THE MENDOCINO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE HAS CLOSED ITS WILLITS OFFICE.

THE WILLITS COURT WAS ORDERED CLOSED IN JANUARY DUE TO BUDGET CUTS, BUT THE D.AS OFFICE HAD MAINTAINED AN OFFICE AND SECRETARY THERE SINCE THE CLOSURE. IN A PRESS RELEASED ISSUED FRIDAY, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE ANNOUNCED THAT DUE TO A $730,000 CUT TO ITS BUDGET, THE WILLITS OFFICE WOULD BE CLOSED PERMANENTLY. THE FORT BRAGG OFFICE REMAINS OPEN. ALL CRIMINAL CASES ARE FILED THROUGH THE UKIAH OFFICE.

OFFICERS NAME WITHHELD BECAUSE OF THREATS JKB 6/28/10

• ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES THE NAME OF A SONOMA COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPUTY WHO SHOT AND KILLED A SANTA ROSA MAN 4 WEEKS AGO IS NOT BEING RELEASED DUE TO A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE GANG RELATED THREATS.

49 YEAR OLD ALBERT LEDAY WAS SHOT IN THE CHEST AFTER HE LED DEPUTIES ON A HIGH SPEED CHASE THAT ENDED OUTSIDE THE CODDINGTOWN MALL WHEN HE CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. WITNESSES AND POLICE SAY LEDAY REFUSED TO SURRENDER AND REACHED BEHIND HIS BACK BEFORE HE WAS SHOT. HIS FAMILY HAS CALLED FOR A FULL INVESTIGATION. SONOMA COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE FOLLOWING UP ON A NUMBER OF ALLEGED THREATS RECEIVED AGAINST THE OFFICER AND HAVE REFUSED TO IDENTIFY THE DEPUTY INVOLVED. THE SANTA ROSA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING THE SHOOTING.

TROPICAL STORM IN GULF JKB 6/;28/10

• TROPICAL STORM ALEX COULD STRENGTHEN INTO A HURRICANE TODAY, BUT IS CURRENTLY HEADING AWAY FROM THE MASSIVE OIL SPILL IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

IF THE STORM CONTINUES ON ITS PRESENT COURSE IT COULD MAKE LANDFALL ANYWHERE FROM TEXAS TO MEXICO. HOWEVER, FORECASTERS HAVE NOT RULED OUT AN EASTERLY SHIFT IN ALEXS PATH, WHICH WOULD BRING IT IN CONTACT WITH THE SPILL. AUTHORITIES SAY IF THAT HAPPENS IT WOULD FORCE BP TO SHUT DOWN OIL RECOVERY OPERATIONS, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO AN ADDITIONAL 2 AND A HALF MILLION GALLONS OF OIL BEING DUMPED INTO THE GULF OVER THE TWO WEEKS IT WOULD TAKE TO GET OPERATIONS BACK UP AND RUNNING TO WHERE THEY ARE NOW. MEANWHILE MISSISSIPPI OFFICIALS REPORTED OILY TAR BALLS WASHING UP ON THEIR MAINLAND SHORES FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY.

SENATOR BYRD DIES JKB 6/28/10

• THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBER OF CONGRESS, SENATOR ROBERT BYRD HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 92.

BYRD, A NINE TERM DEMOCRAT, WAS KNOWN AS A MASTER OF THE CHAMBERS OFTEN ARCANE RULES AND DUBBED THE KING OF PORK FOR USING TOP POSITIONS ON THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE TO STEER FEDERAL SPENDING TO HIS HOME STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. HE WAS ALSO AN OUTSPOKEN OPPONENT OF THE WAR IN IRAQ. BYRD IS FAMOUS FOR ANOTHER CONGRESSIONAL ENDURANCE RECORD. DURING HIS 1964 FILIBUSTER AGAINST THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT HE SPOKE FOR 14 HOURS AND 13 MINUTES IN AN EFFORT TO DERAIL THE BILL.

MARTIN GINSBURG DIES JKB 6/28/10

• HUSBAND OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICE RUTHER BADER GINSBURG, MARTIN GINSBURG HAS DIED.

GINSBURG PASSED AWAY SUNDAY AT HIS HOME IN WASHINGTON DUE TO COMPLICATIONS FROM METASTATIC CANCER. HE WAS 78.

WELL KNOWN MEXICAN SINGER SHOT TO DEATH JKB 6/28/10

• A WELL KNOWN MEXICAN SINGER ON HIS WAY TO PERFORM AT A VILLAGE FESTIVAL CONCERT WAS SHOT TO DEATH BY A GROUP OF GUNMEN SATURDAY.

40 YEAR OLD SERGIO EL SHAKA VEGA WAS AMBUSHED BY THE GUNMAN AT A TOLL BOTH IN THE WESTERN MEXICAN STATE OF SINALOA AT AROUND 9:30 PM. ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, MUSICIANS HAVE BEEN TARGETS OF MEXICAN DRUG GANGS IN THE PAST. AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING THE SHOOTING.

INJURY ACCIDENT JKB 6/28/10

• A HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE WOMAN WAS SEVERELY INJURED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 175 JUST WEST OF SANTA BARBARA AVENUE IN MIDDLETOWN ON FRIDAY.

ACCORDING TO THE CHP, 52 YEAR OLD JUDITH COPELAND WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND WHEN SHE ALLOWED HER VEHICLE TO DRIFT OFF THE ROADWAY AND COLLIDE WITH A LARGE PINE TREE AT AROUND 1 PM. THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED AND SHE HAD TO BE EXTRICATED BY EMERGENCY PERSONNEL. SHE WAS AIRLIFTED TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WITH MAJOR INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

News 6/25/10

HOPLAND MAN ACCIDENTALLY SHOT JKB 6/25/10

• A HOPLAND MAN HUNTING JACKRABBITS WAS SHOT IN THE HAND AND INJURED WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

22 YEAR OLD KYLER CRAWFORD AND HIS COUSIN, 22 YEAR OLD LANCE PIFFERO WERE DRIVING IN A VINEYARD OFF HIGHWAY 175 HUNTING RABBITS FROM A VEHICLE AT AROUND 10:30 PM. ACCORDING TO POLICE, CRAWFORD WAS ACCIDENTALLY SHOT IN THE HAND WITH A 22 CALIBER RIFLE. POLICE LEARNED OF THE INCIDENT AFTER CRAWFORD WAS TAKEN TO THE UKIAH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER. HE WAS LATER TRANSFERRED TO HOWARD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN WILLITS WHERE HE UNDERWENT SURGERY ON THURSDAY MORNING.

3 INJURED IN ROLL OVER ACCIDENT JKB 6/25/10

• 3 PEOPLE WERE INJURED WHEN THEY WERE EJECTED FROM A JEEP COMMANDO THAT OVERTURNED AND WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT ON SODA BAY ROAD TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

ACCORDING TO THE CHP, 19 YEAR OLD KENNETH FONTAIN OF CLOVERDALE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT AROUND 1:15 PM DUE TO EXCESSIVE SPEED. FONTAINE WAS NOT INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, BUT ALL 3 OF HIS PASSENGERS, NONE OF WHOM WERE WEARING A SEAT BELT WERE. 21 YEAR OLD MELISSA GLOVER OF PETALUMA SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES AND WAS AIRLIFTED TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. LEA PFEFFER OF PETALUMA AND A 17 YEAR OLD MALE PASSENGER SUFFERED MODERATE INJURIES AND WERE TAKEN TO SUTTER LAKESIDE HOSPITAL.

SUSPECT WHO HIT MAN WITH CAR SOUGHT JKB 6/25/10

• UKIAH POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN DURING A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT ON SUNDAY.

ACCORDING TO POLICE THE SUSPECT SLOWED HIS VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ANOTHER DRIVER TO CONFRONT HIM ABOUT CUTTING HIM OFF AT AROUND 10 AM. HE THEN JUMPED BACK IN HIS CAR, DROVE IN CIRCLES AT THE PERKINS AND ORCHARD STREET INTERSECTION AND ENTERED THE CHEVERON PARKING LOT WITH THE OTHER MOTORIST RUNNING AFTER HIM ON FOOT. AT ONE POINT THE MAN ON FOOT TRIED TO STOP THE SUSPECT FROM DRIVING AWAY. THATS WHEN, ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE SUSPECT ACCELERATED TOWARD THE VICTIM AND HIT HIM, THROWING HIM ONTO THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND FLED THE SCENE. THE VICTIM SUFFERED MINOR LEG AND HEAD INJURIES. THE SUSPECT VEHICLE, DESCRIBED AS A RED LATE MODEL CAR, POSSIBLY A NISSAN ALTIMA WITH PARTIAL LICENSE PLATE NUMBER OF 6KMN, WAS LAST SEEN HEADING EAST ON PERKINS STREET. THE DRIVER IS DESCRIBED AS A WHITE MALE ADULT WITH SHORT HAIR. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INCIDENT IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE UKIAH POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BP OIL CLEAN UP COSTS JKB 6/25/10

• BP SAYS THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GULF OIL DISASTER HAVE GONE UP MORE THAN $300 MILLION IN LESS THAN A WEEK AND THAT TO DATE, THE COST OF THE RESPONSE HAS CLIMBED TO MORE THAN $2.35 BILLION DOLLARS.

UNDER PRESSURE FROM FEDERAL LAWMAKERS, BP HAS AGREED TO SET ASIDE $20 BILLION DOLLARS IN AN ESCROW ACCOUNT FOR SPILL RELATED COSTS, BUT THAT DOES NOT COVER FEES AND FINES THAT COULD BE IMPOSED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. ACCORDING TO BP, ALMOST 74,000 CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AND MORE THAN 39,000 PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE, TOTALLY CLOSE TO 126 MILLION DOLLARS.

JUNE DEADLIEST MONTH FOR TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN JKB 6/25/10

• AS OF THIS WEEK, JUNE 2010 BECAME THE DEADLIEST MONTH FOR COALITION TROOPS IN THE NEARLY 9 YEAR OLD WAR IN AFGHANISTAN.

4 BRITISH SOLDIERS WILL KILLED IN WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A VEHICLE INCIDENT ON WEDNESDAY IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN, BRINGING THE MONTHLY DEATH TOLL TO 80.

COSTNERS WATER CLEANING MACHINE ORDERED BY BP JKB 6/25/10

• A MACHINE PARTIALLY DEVELOPED BY ACTOR KEVIN COSTNER THAT IS DESIGNED TO SEPARATE OIL FROM WATER HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL DURING TESTING THAT BP WILL BE USING THEM AS PART OF THE CLEAN UP EFFORTS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

COSTNER HAS INVESTED $26 MILLION DOLLARS OF HIS OWN MONEY OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OCEAN THERAPY SOLUTIONS FILTERING SYSTEM. BP WAS SO IMPRESSED AFTER TESTING LAST MONTH, THEY ORDERED 32 OF THE UNITS AND HAS COMMITTED TO BUILDING 4 DEEPWATER SYSTEMS BASED ON THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL BE HOUSED ON SEVERAL 280 FOOT LONG OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSELS. IN TOTAL, THE SYSTEMS BP IS RIGGING UP WILL HAVE AN ESTIMATED PROCESSING CAPACITY OF OVER 128,000 BARRELS A DAY. NO WORD YET ON HOW SOON THE MACHINES CAN BE DEPLOYED.

VEHICLE FIRE LEADS TO POT BUST JKB 6/25/10

• A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE ECONOMY INN IN UKIAH LED THE ARREST OF 5 PEOPLE FROM NEW MEXICO ON WEDNESDAY.

THE INCIDENT BEGAN WHEN A 1980S FORD PICK UP WAS DISCOVERED FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AT AROUND 1:30 AM. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN REPORTED STOLEN FROM THE PARKING LOT OF ALS REDWOOD ROOM IN WILLITS EARLIER IN THE EVENING. VIDEO SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE LED TO THE IDENTIFY OF SOME OF THE SUSPECTS WHO WERE KNOWN TO BE FROM NEW MEXICO AND OFFICERS INVESTIGATING THE FIRE REMEMBERED SEEING A VEHICLE PARKED IN THE SAME LOT WITH NEW MEXICO LICENSE PLATES. FURTHER INVESTIGATION LED TO A SEARCH OF ONE OF THE MOTEL ROOMS WHERE POLICE FOUND 4 POUNDS OF PROCESSED MARIJUANA, $40,000 IN CASH AND A .45 CALIBER GLOCK PISTOL. 25 YEAR OLD JAMES DAVIS WAS ARRESTED FOR THE VEHICLE THEFT AND ARSON AS WELL AS DRUG AND WEAPONS CHARGES. THE OTHER 4 ADULTS WERE ARRESTED ON MARIJUANA AND CONSPIRACY CHARGES.

POT BUSTS JKB 6/25/10

• THE SUMMER MARIJUANA ERADICATION SEASON IS OFFICIALLY UNDER WAY.

5 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY OF MENDOCINO MARIJUANA ERADICATION TEAM OR COMMET ON TUESDAY FOR CLANDESTINE POT GROWING OPERATIONS IN THE BOONVILLE, UKIAH AND REDWOOD VALLEY AREAS. THE HAUL FROM 3 GROWING SITES YIELDED MORE THAN 1100 GROWING MARIJUANA PLANTS, SEVERAL FIREARMS AND CLOSE TO $35,000 CASH.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARREST JKB 6/25/10

• A FORT BRAGG WOMAN WAS ON ARRESTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES AFTER ATTACKING HER BOYFRIEND WEDNESDAY EVENING.

ACCORDING TO POLICE 47 YEAR OLD DAVID STARRETT WAS JUST RETURNING TO HIS UPSTAIRS APARTMENT WHEN HE WAS MET NEAR THE TOP STEP BY 49 YEAR OLD MICHELLE SMITH SHORTLY AFTER 8 PM. SMITH KICKED STARRETT IN HIS LEFT KNEE CAUSING HIM TO LOSE HIS BALANCE AND FALL DOWN THE STAIRS. SMITH REPORTEDLY KICKED HIM SEVERAL MORE TIMES AS HE CONTINUED DOWN THE STAIRS AND THEN STABBED HIM WITH A SWISS ARMY KNIFE WHEN HE REACHED THE BOTTOM. STARRETT SUFFERED SEVERAL BROKEN BONES AND A ONE AND A HALF INCH LACERATION ON HIS NECK. HE WAS TREATED AT MENDOCINO COAST HOSPITAL FOR HIS INJURIES AND RELEASED. SMITH WAS BOOKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL WITH BAIL SET AT $30,000.

BUI WEEKEND JKB 6/25/10

• LAKE MENDOCINO WILL TAKE PART IN A NATIONWIDE WEEKEND AGAINST BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS THIS WEEKEND.

STARTING TODAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH SUNDAY, PARK RANGERS AND COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPUTIES WILL BE CITING BOATERS UNDER THE INFLUENCE DURING OPERATION DRY WATER 2010. ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT U.S. COAST GUARD STATISTICS, BUI IS STILL THE LEADING CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN FATAL BOATING ACCIDENTS WITH 17% OF BOATING FATALITIES A DIRECT RESULT OF ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE.

DEER CAMP OPEN, OTHERS CLOSED AT LAKE MENDO JKB 6/25/10

• LAKE MENDOCINO WILL OPEN DEER CAMP AT THE LAKES BUSHAY CAMPGROUND FOR BOAT IN CAMPING STARTING TODAY.

POMO A, B, AND C CAMPGROUNDS ARE CLOSED DUE TO DEMOLITION, SITE PREP, AND REPLACEMENT OF RESTROOMS. THE PROJECTED REOPENING DATE IS AUGUST 21ST. KYEN CAMPGROUND, WHICH WILL BE ENHANCED WITH SIMILAR CONSTRUCTION, WILL CLOSE JULY 6TH WITH A SCHEDULED REOPENING DATE OF SEPTEMBER 4TH.

News 6/24/10

CARNIVAL WORKERS LEG SEVERED AT FAIR JKB 6/24/10

• A CARNIVAL WORKERS LEG WAS SEVERED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY A CHILDRENS ROLLER COASTER AT THE SONOMA MARIN FAIR YESTERDAY.

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 90 MINUTES AFTER THE FAIR HAD OPENED. ACCORDING TO REPORTS, THE WORKER, WHO WAS NOT THE RIDE OPERATOR, STEPPED ONTO THE TRACKS OF THE WACKY WORM ROLLER COASTER WITH HIS BACK TO THE MOVING RIDE JUST PRIOR TO BEING STRUCK AT AROUND 2:15 PM. HIS LEG WAS SEVERED JUST BELOW THE KNEE. HE AND HIS LEG WERE TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. NO WORD YET ON HIS CONDITION. HIS NAME HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED. NO CHILDREN WHO WERE ON THE RIDE AT THE TIME WERE INJURED. CAL OSHA IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT.

MAN GIVING CONDOMS TO CHILDREN ARRESTED JKB 6/24/10

• A UKIAH MAN WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY HANDING OUT CONDOMS TO CHILDREN, SOME AS YOUNG AS 8 YEARS OLD, WAS ARRESTED ON SUNDAY.

ACCORDING TO POLICE, 21 YEAR OLD ROCKY ALAN COVEY WAS ON LAWS AVENUE IN CONVERSATION WITH A GROUP OF CHILDREN AND WAS SOLICITING THEM WITH CONDOMS. AN 18 YEAR OLD WHO WITNESSED THE EVENT CALLED 911. COVEY WAS BOOKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL ON SUSPICION OF ANNOYING OR MOLESTING CHILDREN. HIS BAIL WAS SET AT $5000.

UUSD APPROVES BUDGET JKB 6/24/10

• THE UKIAH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS APPROVED A BUDGET THAT INCLUDES GENERAL FUND REDUCTIONS IN EXCESS OF $3.1 MILLION DOLLARS, PUTS A FREEZE ON SPENDING AND ALLOWS FOR ANOTHER $5.7 MILLION DOLLARS IN REDUCTIONS IN FUTURE BUDGETS SHOULD THE FISCAL CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE..

THE NEWLY APPROVED BUDGET AND ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS COULD IMPACT THE DISTRICTS BUDGETS THROUGH THE 2012, 2013 SCHOOL YEAR. THE WORST CASE SCENARIO MEASURES ARE NECESSARY DUE TO THE ONGOING FINANCIAL CRISIS IN CALIFORNIA AND THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THE STATE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE EVEN LESS FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN THE FUTURE. THE MENDOCINO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION WILL NOW REVIEW THE PROPOSED BUDGET BEFORE THE FINAL APPROVAL.

SANTA ROSA DOOLITTLE RAIDER DIES JKB 6/24/10

• A SANTA ROSA MAN WHO WAS ONE OF THE AIRMEN THAT TOOK PART IN THE FAMOUS DOOLITTLE RAIDS 4 MONTHS AFTER THE BOMBING OF PEARL HARBOR DURING WORLD WAR TWO HAS DIED.

FRANK KAPPELER WAS A NAVIGATOR AND ONE OF THE 79 AVIATORS WHO VOLUNTEERED TO FLY WITH LT. COL. JAMES JIMMY DOOLITTLE IN THE B-25 BOMBING RAIDS THAT TOOK OFF FROM AIR CRAFT CARRIERS TO MAKE STRIKES ON MAINLAND JAPAN IN APRIL 1942 IN RETALIATION FOR THE PEARL HARBOR ATTACK. THE RAIDERS WERE THEN FORCED TO DITCH THEIR PLANES AND BAIL OUT OVER CHINA BECAUSE OF EXHAUSTED FUEL SUPPLIES. KAPPELER SERVED THE REST OF THE WAR IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER COMPLETING 53 COMBAT MISSIONS. HE RETIRED FROM THE AIR FORCE IN 1966 AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL. KAPPELERS DEATH MEANS THAT JUST 7 SURVIVORS OF THE RAID ARE LEFT. HE WAS 96.

TRAIN KILLS 12, INJURES SEVERAL OTHERS IN SPAIN JKB 6/24/10

• AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND SEVERAL OTHERS WERE INJURED WHEN THEY WERE STRUCK AND RUN OVER BY A TRAIN IN A TOWN SOUTH OF BARCELONA SPAIN.

AUTHORITIES SAY IT HAS BEEN HARD TO IDENTIFY EXACTLY HOW MANY WERE KILLED AND INJURED DUE TO EXTENSIVE MUTILATION OF THE BODIES. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WEDNESDAY BETWEEN 11:30 PM AND MIDNIGHT AS A GROUP OF ABOUT 30 PEOPLE TRIED CROSS THE TRACKS AFTER GETTING OFF ANOTHER TRAIN. ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS, REMODELING OF THE TRAIN STATION LAST OCTOBER RESULTED IN THE CLOSURE OF AN ELEVATED CROSS WALK OVER THE TRACKS, BUT IT WAS REPLACED BY AN UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY BENEATH THE TRACKS WHICH WAS OPEN AND IN USE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IT IS UNCLEAR WHY THE GROUP CHOSE NOT TO USE THE PASSAGEWAY.

OBAMA FIRES MC CHRYSTAL JKB 6/24/10

• AFTER A 30 MINUTE MEETING YESTERDAY, PRESIDENT BRACK OBAMA RELIEVED GENERAL STANLEY MC CHRYSTAL OF HIS COMMAND OF U.S. AND ALLIED FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN AND NOMINATED GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS TO REPLACE HIM.

THE DISMISSAL CAME A DAY AFTER MC CHRYSTALS DISPARAGING REMARKS IN A ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE ARTICLE, ABOUT CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, WERE REVEALED. THE MAGAZINE IS DUE TO HIT NEWSSTANDS TOMORROW. IN ACCEPTING MC CHRYSTALS RESIGNATION, OBAMA SAID GENERAL MC CRYSTALS REMARKS UNDERMINED THE CIVILIAN CONTROL OF THE MILITARY AND DID NOT MEET THE STANDARD THAT SHOULD BE SET BY A COMMANDING GENERAL.

MOTHER CHARGED WITH CHILD ENDANGERMENT JKB 6/24/10

• A PETALUMA MOTHER WHOSE 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS FOUND WANDERING ON A CITY STREET LATE MONDAY NIGHT, HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FELONY CHILD ENDANGERMENT.

23 YEAR OLD ANA RENDON WAS ARRESTED AFTER HER DAUGHTER WAS FOUND BY PETALUMA RESIDENTS BAREFOOT AND CRYING ON A SIDEWALK AT AROUND 10 PM MORE THAN A MILE FROM HER HOME. ACCORDING TO POLICE, RENDON HAD BEEN DRINKING SUNDAY EVENING AND WAS UNAWARE THAT HER DAUGHTER WAS MISSING FOR AT LEAST 11 HOURS. SHE IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD ON $25,000 BAIL AND AN ADDITIONAL IMMIGRATION HOLD. THE CHILD HAS BEEN PLACED IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY.

COAST ANIMAL SHELTER STATUS JKB 6/24/10

• AS WE REPORTED EARLIER THIS MONTH THE ANIMAL SHELTER IN FORT BRAGG IS SCHEDULED TO CLOSE AT THE END OF JULY DUE TO THE COUNTYS $11.6 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIT.

HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE ISSUED YESTERDAY, THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF FORT BRAGG ARE EXPLORING OTHER MODELS OF NON COUNTY OPERATION FOR THE EXISTING FACILITY ON SUMMERS LANE, WHICH RECENTLY WENT THROUGH A SERIES OF UPGRADES. AS OF JULY 31ST. ALL ANIMAL CARE SERVICES FOR THE COUNTY WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE SHELTER IN UKIAH. ANIMAL CONTROL FIELD SERVICES WILL CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

News 6/23/10

E-QUAKE JKB 6/23/10

• THE GEYSERS WERE SHAKEN BY A 3.3 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, THE 15TH QUAKE 3.0 OR LARGER TO STRIKE THAT AREA SINCE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

THE QUAKE OCCURRED AT 2:42 PM AND WAS CENTERED 3 MILES NORTH NORTH WEST OF THE STEAM FIELDS. AT A DEPTH OF 1/10TH OF A MILE.

SUSPECT SOUGHT JKB 6/23/10

• CLEARLAKE POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A BLACK MALE ADULT WHO IS A SUSPECT IN AN ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY AT THE PG&E BUILDING ON OLYMPIC DRIVE LATE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

ACCORDING TO POLICE, THE MAN WALKED INTO THE BUILDING AT ANOUND 5 PM WEARING A BLACK FACE MASK AND BLACK AND GRAY HOODED SWEATSHIRT. HE ALLEGEDLY BRANDISHED A SILVER HANDGUN AND DEMANDED MONEY FROM A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. THE MAN FLED WITHOUT ANY MONEY. AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH OF THE AREA FAILED TO LOCATE THE SUSPECT. ACCORDING TO WITNESS STATEMENTS, THE PERSON THEY ARE LOOKING FOR MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH AN OLDER RED-COLORED FORD TAURUS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INCIDENT IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE CLEARLAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ABALONE POACHING SENTENCE JKB 3/23/10

• A POTTER VALLEY MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR POACHING 45 ABALONE OUT OF SEASON WITH THE INTENT TO SELL THEM ON THE BLACK MARKET.

31 YEAR OLD ALAN DEAN OTIS PALMER PLEADED NO CONTEST TO IN APRIL TO FELONY CONSPIRACY TO TAKE ABALONE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. HE WAS SENTENCED IN MAY. IN ADDITION TO THE PRISON TIME PALMER WAS ORDERED TO PAY A $20,000 FINE AND IS BANNED FROM FISHING IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR LIFE. TWO ACCOMPLICES, PHILLIP HORCH AND CHRISTOPHER KERN ALSO PLEADED GUILTY AND HAVE RECEIVED EXTENSIVE JAIL TERMS.

JUDGE BLOCKS OIL DRILLING MORATORIUM JKB 6/23/10

• CITING POTENTIAL ECONOMIC HARM TO BUSINESSES AND WORKERS WHO EARN A LIVING SUPPORTING DEEPWATER OFF SHORE OIL DRILLING, FEDERAL JUDGE MARTIN FELDMAN BLOCKED PRESIDENT OBAMAS 6 MONTH MORATORIUM ON OFF SHORE DRILLING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO YESTERDAY.

IN A 22 PAGE OPINION THAT ACCOMPANIED THE RULING, JUDGE FELDMAN SAID THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAD FAILED TO JUSTIFY THE NEED FOR SUCH A BLANKET AND PUNITIVE MORATORIUM WITH NO ESTABLISHED PARAMETERS. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE MORATORIUM ASSUMED THAT SINCE ONE RIG HAD FAILED THE OTHERS IMPOSED AN IMMINENT DANGER, WHICH HAD NOT BEEN PROVEN. THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION VOWED TO APPEAL THE RULING AND SAID THEY ARE MOVING QUICKLY TO PUT OTHER MORATORIUMS IN PLACE ON OFF SHORE DRILLING IN THE GULF.

STATE BUDGE WOES BAD FOR LOCAL GOVERNEMNTS JKB 6/23/10

• A LETTER TO COUNTY OFFICIALS FROM STATE CONTROLLER JOHN CHIANG WAS ONE OF THE TOPICS OF DISCUSSION AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING YESTERDAY, AND THE NEWS IS NOT GOOD.

THE LETTER, WHICH WAS WRITTEN JUNE 15TH SAYS THAT BECAUSE THE STATE HAS MISSED THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE TO PASS A BALANCED BUDGET AND THE STATES GENERAL FUND HAS A ZERO CASH BALANCE, MANY STATE AND COUNTY PROGRAMS WILL GO UN FUNDED. AS OF JULY 1ST, THE STATE WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO MAKE PAYMENTS TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES, CATEGORICAL SCHOOL PROGRAMS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND SOME NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. SALARIES OF STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEIR APPOINTED STAFF WILL ALSO GO UNPAID. THINGS THAT WILL GET PAID ARE PRIOR YEAR OBLIGATIONS, CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORIZATIONS AND FEDERAL MANDATED PROGRAMS SUCH AS SSI, IN HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES MEDI CAL AND STATE PAYROLL.

BOS INCREASE FEES AND PRIVATIZE SOLID WASTE JKB 6/23/10

• IT WILL COST MORE TO BORROW BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY AND FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA CO-OPS TO LEGALLY DO BUSINESS UNDER THE COUNTYS NEW 99-PLANT COOPERATIVE CULTIVATION ORDINANCE. K-WINE FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT JOHN SAKOWICZ REPORTS.

(SND)

THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED PRIVATIZING ALL COUNTY SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS BY AWARDING A 14 AND A HALF YEAR CONTRACT TO SOLID WASTE OF WILLITS TO RUN ALL SIX OF THE COUNTYS TRANSFER STATIONS. THAT MOTION PASSED ON A VOTE OF 3 TO 2 WITH SUPERVISORS SMITH AND COLFAX DISSENTING.

WHOOPING COUGH ON RISE JKB 6/23/10

• CASES OF PERTUSSIS OR WHOOPING COUGH ARE ON THE RISE IN CALIFORNIA AND COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES ARE ADVISING ADULTS, TO MAKE SURE THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE VACCINATED, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO CARE FOR INFANTS.

THE HIGHEST RATES OF WHOOPING COUGH HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE BAY AREA AND CONFIRMED CASES HAVE BEEN RECORDED IN MARIN AND SONOMA COUNTIES. MENDOCINO COUNTY HAS HAD ONE SUSPECTED CASE RECENTLY BUT IT HAS NOT YET BEEN CONFIRMED BY LAB TESTS. LAST YEAR THERE WAS ONE CONFIRMED CASE OF WHOOPING COUGH IN THE WILLITS AREA.

GENERAL MC CRYSTAL MAY BE REPLACED JKB 6/23/10

• ACCORDING TO UN SPECIFIED PENTAGON OFFICIALS, AMERICAS TOP MILITARY COMMANDER IN AFGHANISTAN WILL MOST LIKELY NOT SURVIVE THE FALLOUT FROM REMARKS HE MADE ABOUT COLLEAGUES IN A ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE ARTICLE DUE TO HIT NEWS STANDS ON FRIDAY.

THE WHITE HOUSE HAS REPORTEDLY ASKED THE PENTAGON TO MAKE A LIST OF POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS FOR GENERAL STANLEY MC CHRYSTAL IN CASE PRESIDENT OBAMA DECIDES TO FIRE HIM FOR THE REMARKS. MC CHRISTAL COULD POSSIBLY RESIGN HIS POST AFTER MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT TODAY, WHO IS SAID TO BE ANGRY AFTER READING THE ROLLING STONE ARTICLE.

Playlist 6/24/10

B.O.B. W/HAYLEY WILLIAMS-AIRPLANES

KESHA-YOUR LOVE IS MY DRUG

LAROUX-BULLETPROOF

PERRY, KATY W/SNOOP DOGG- CALIFORNIA GURLS

TIAO CRUZ FEAT. LUDACRIS-BREAK YOUR HEART

USHER W/WILL.I.AM-OMG

B.O.B. W/BRUNO MARS-NOTHING ON YOU

BLACK EYED PEAS-ROCK THAT BODY

BUBLE’, MICHAEL-HAVEN’T MET YOU YET

CYRUS, MILEY-CAN’T BE TAMED

DERULO, JASON-IN MY HEAD

DERULO, JASON-RIDIN’ SOLO

JAY Z W/MR. HUDSON-YOUNG FOREVER

LADY ANTEBELLUM-NEED YOU NOW

LADY GAGA-ALEJANDRO

MC COY, TRAVIE-BILLIONAIRE

POSNER, MIKE-COOLER THAN ME

RIHANNA-RUDE BOY

RUDOLPH, KEVIN-I MADE IT

SHONTELLE-IMPOSSIBLE

THE SCRIPT-BREAKEVEN

TRAIN-HEY SOUL SISTER

3OH!3 W/KESHA-MY FIRST KISS

BIEBER, JUSTIN-SOMEBODY TO LOVE

DRAKE-FIND YOUR LOVE

EMINEM-NOT AFRAID

IGLESIAS, ENRIQUE W/PITBULL-I LIKE IT

NICKELBACK-THIS AFTERNOON

TIMBALAND W/KATY PERRY-IF WE EVER MEET AGAIN

WE THE KINGS-WE’LL BE A DREAM

BOYS LIKE GIRLS-HEART HEART HEARTBREAK

COSGROVE, MIRANDA-KISSIN U

CRUZ, TAIO-DYNAMITE

GUETTA, DAVID W/FERGIE AND CHRIS WILLIS-GETTIN’ OVER YOU

LIFEHOUSE-HALFWAY GONE

NE-YO-BEAUTIFUL MONSTER

PARAMORE-THE ONLY EXCEPTION

SONGZ, TREY-SAY AAH

News 6/22/10

CORRECTIONAL OFFICER ARRESTED FOR DUI JKB 6/22/10

• A LAKE COUNTY SENIOR JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER WAS ARRESTED LATE LAST WEEK AND CHARGED WITH DUI.

42 YEAR OLD STEPHEN SHRYOCK OF LAKEPORT WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY JUST BEFORE 3 AM FRIDAY MORNING BY A CHP OFFICER. HE WAS LATER RELEASED AFTER POSTING $5000 BAIL. SHRYOCKS ARREST WAS THE 2ND ARREST OF A LAKE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR DUI IN A WEEK. LAKE COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPUTY BRYAN SMITH WAS ARRESTED FOR DUI OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AFTER CRASHING HIS PATROL CAR INTO A PARKED CAR 3 DAYS EARLIER ON JUNE 15TH.

SUSPECT DAMAGES PATROL CAR JKB /22/10

• A UKIAH WOMAN ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS FACING MORE CHARGES AFTER KICKING THE WINDOW OUT OF A SHERIFFS PATROL CAR SUNDAY NIGHT.

22 YEAR OLD SHAMIRROR MARIE ROHRBACK WAS SITTING IN THE BACK OF THE PATROL CAR AFTER HAVING BEEN ARRESTED FOR PUMMELING HER 30 YEAR OLD BOYFRIEND WITH HER FISTS, WHEN SHE KICKED THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW OUT OF ITS FRAME. DEPUTIES WERE ABLE TO SUBDUE ROHRBACH WITHOUT HAVING TO USE A TASER AND SHE WAS BOOKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL WITH BAIL SET AT $25,000. DAMAGE TO THE PATROL CAR WAS ESTIMATED AT $350.

FUGITIVE CAPTURED JKB 6/22/10

• A FUGITIVE WHO HAS BEEN ON THE RUN FROM PAROLE AGENTS FOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS WAS CAPTURED IN REDDING SUNDAY.

39 YEAR OLD CURTIS DEWAYNE DODGE, FORMERLY OF LAKE COUNTY, WAS ARRESTED AT AROUND 1:40 AM. WITHOUT HIS GPS MONITORING ANKLET, WHICH HE IS REQUIRED TO WEAR AS ONE OF THE CONDITIONS OF HIS PAROLE. HE HAD BEEN ON THE RUN SINCE MARCH FOR PAROLE VIOLATIONS. DODGE HAS AN EXTENSIVE VIOLENT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND AND IS A CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER. DODGE HAS VIOLATED PAROLE NUMEROUS TIMES AND HAS BEEN RETURNED TO PRISON 6 TIMES SINCE FIRST BEING PLACED ON PAROLE IN 1995. HE IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD WITHOUT BAIL IN THE SHASTA COUNTY JAIL.

LINTOTT RESPONDS TO GRAND JURY REPORT JKB 6/22/10

• DISTRICT ATTORNEY MEREDITH LINTOTT HAS RESPONDED TO THE LATEST GRAND JURY REPORT CRITICAL OF HER OFFICE NOT GOING AFTER SUPERVISOR KENDALL SMITH FOR TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT OVERPAYMENTS.

IN A PRESS RELEASE ISSUED YESTERDAY, LINTOTT SAYS SUPERVISOR SMITH WAS NOT CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED DUE TO LACK OF EVIDENCE AND SMITHS VALID DEFENSE. A CIVIL SUIT WAS NOT FILED BY THE D.AS OFFICE DUE TO LACK OF JURISDICTION, AS THE CASE WAS A SMALL CLAIMS COURT MATTER. LINTOTT WHEN ON TO SAY THAT TO THE BEST OF HER KNOWLEDGE, NEITHER THE GRAND JURY NOR THE COUNTY, MADE AN EFFORT TO SEEK REPAYMENT THROUGH THE SMALL CLAIMS PROCESS. LINTOTT AGREED WITH THE GRAND JURY THAT PUBLIC OFFICIALS SHOULD BE HELD FISCALLY ACCOUNTABLE. HOWEVER, THE DESIRE FOR FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY CANNOT OVERRIDE THE ETHICAL DUTIES OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

JUDGE TO RULE ON DRILLING MORATORIUM JKB 6/22/10

• A U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE IN NEW ORLEANS COULD RULE AS EARLY AS TODAY ON WHETHER TO LIFT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TEMPORARY BAN ON DEEPWATER DRILLING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.

JUDGE MARTIN FELDMAN SAID HE WILL GIVE A RULING EITHER TODAY OR TOMORROW ON WHETHER TO ISSUE A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AGAINST THE 6 MONTH BAN, WHICH PROHIBITS ALL DRILLING IN MORE THAN 500 FEET OF WATER AND PREVENTS NEW PERMITS FROM BEING ISSUED. ATTORNEYS FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAY THE SUSPENSION IS NECESSARY WHILE OFFICIALS CONDUCT SAFETY REVIEWS AFTER THE DEEPWATER HORIZON EXPLOSION APRIL 20TH. A GROUP OF COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE BOATS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT TO THE OFFSHORE DRILLING INDUSTRY FILED A LAWSUIT CLAIMING THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO EVIDENCE THAT EXISTING OPERATIONS POSE A THREAT TO THE GULF OF MEXICO AND WANT THE MORATORIUM DECLARED INVALID AND UNENFORCEABLE. THE LOUISIANAS GOVERNOR OFFICE HAS FILED A BRIEF SUPPORTING THEIR CASE.

TOP COMMANDER CALLED TO WASHINGTON JKB 6/22/10

• AMERICAS TOP MILITARY COMMANDER IN AFGHANISTAN, GENERAL STANLEY MC CHRYSTAL, HAS BEEN RECALLED TO WASHINGTON OVER REMARKS HE MADE ABOUT COLLEAGUES IN AN UPCOMING ARTICLE IN ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE.

ACCORDING TO A SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIAL, MC CHRYSTAL WAS SUMMONED TO ATTEND A MEETING ON AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN IN PERSON RATHER THAN BY VIDEO CONFERENCE AS WOULD NORMALLY HAPPEN. GENERAL MC CHRYSTAL APOLOGIZED YESTERDAY FOR THE ARTICLE IN, WHICH HE AND HIS STAFF APPEAR TO MOCK TOP CIVILIAN OFFICIALS INCLUDING VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN. THE ARTICLE IS SET TO APPEAR IN FRIDAYS EDITION OF ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE.

INTIMIDATION CASE SETTLED JKB 6/22/10

• THE CASE AGAINST TWO PEOPLE ACCUSED OF TRYING TO INTIMIDATE A WITNESS WAS SETTLED BY THE LAKE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE YESTERDAY.

62 YEAR OLD JOSEPH DESHETRES AND 56 YEAR OLD CHERYL REESE PLEADED GUILTY TO MISDEMEANOR CHARGES RELATED TO THEIR ATTEMPTS TO INTIMIDATE A WITNESS IN THE ATTEMPTED MURDER CASE AGAINST 59 YEAR OLD THOMAS DUDNEY. BOTH WERE RELEASED AFTER BEING GIVEN CREDIT FOR TIME SERVED. DUDNEY WAS ALSO CHARGED WITH CONSPIRING TO INTIMIDATE A WITNESS, BUT THOSE CHARGES WERE DROPPED. HE IS STILL FACING 11 CHARGES RELATED TO THE TORTURE AND ATTEMPTED MURDER LAKEPORT RESIDENT RONALD GREINER. GREINER SURVIVED AFTER BEING BEATEN, SHOT TWICE, HOGTIED AND LEFT IN FRONT OF HIS HOME OCTOBER 20TH BY DUDNEY AND 35 YEAR OLD JOSHUA WANDREY. BOTH MEN REMAIN IN JAIL AND ARE SCHEDULED TO BE TRIED IN AUGUST.

PLANE CRASH KILLS 11 MINING OFFICIALS JKB 6/22/10

• A PLANE CRASH IN A REMOTE AFRICAN JUNGLE KILLED 11 PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH AN AUSTRALIAN MINING COMPANY YESTERDAY, INCLUDING ONE OF AUSTRALIAS RICHEST MEN.

MINING MAGNATE AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SUNDANCE RESOURCES LTD. KEN TALBOT WAS ONE OF THE VICTIMS. 6 OTHER HIGH RANKING COMPANY OFFICIALS, 2 BRITISH NATIONALS, 2 FRENCH NATIONALS AND ONE U.S. CITIZEN WERE ALSO KILLED IN THE CRASH. THE GROUP WAS VISITING SUNDANCES IRON ORE PROJECTS IN CAMEROON AND THE CONGO WHEN THE PLANE WENT DOWN.

OBAMAS BUDGET DIRECTOR RESIGNS JKB 6/22/10

• PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMAS BUDGET DIRECTOR PETER ORSZAG GAVE NOTICE YESTERDAY, ANNOUNCING THAT HE IS LEAVING HIS POSITION IN JULY.

ORSZAG HAS BEEN A KEY PART OF OBAMAS ECONOMIC TEAM AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE ORCHESTRATING THE PASSAGE OF THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL AND THIS YEARS HEALTH CARE REFORM LEGISLATION. ORSZAG DID NOT INDICATE WHY HE WAS LEAVING THE POSITION.

News 6/21/10

PILOT KILLED IDENTIFIED JKB 6/21/10

• TWO MEN WHO WERE KILLED IN A PLANE CRASH NEAR THE TRUCKEE LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT LAST WEEK WERE IDENTIFIED AS 66 YEAR OLD PILOT RAYMOND ROTGE OF BENNETT VALLEY AND 71 YEAR OLD PASSENGER MACK JOHNSTON OF CHEWELAH WASHINGTON.

BOTH MEN DIED WHEN ROTGES SINGLE ENGINE TWO SEAT EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 500 YARDS SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY AT 2:15 PM THURSDAY. ROTGE WAS DESCRIBED AS A RETIRED COMMERCIAL PILOT, A SEASONED FLIER AND AN EXPERT IN THE HANDLING OF HIS EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

THREE BOYS ARRESTED FOR BREAK IN AT UKIAH HIGH JKB 6/21/10

• THREE YOUNG BOYS WERE ARRESTED FOR BREAKING INTO THE UKIAH HIGH SCHOOL LAST WEEK.

OFFICERS WERE CALLED TO THE SCHOOL AT AROUND 11:10 PM WEDNESDAY NIGHT AFTER A BURGLAR ALARM HAD BEEN ACTIVATED, BUT THE SUSPECTS HAD FLED THE AREA. OFFICERS LOCATED A 13 YEAR OLD BOY RIDING A BICYCLE ON DESPINA DRIVE WHO REPORTEDLY ADMITTED HE AND SOME FRIENDS HAD BEEN PLAYING THE GAME FUGITIVE AND HAD BROKEN INTO THE LITTLE THEATER BY KICKING HOLES IN THE WALL. THE BOY WAS FOUND TO BE ON PROBATION AND ARRESTED. TWO OTHER SUSPECTS, A 12 YEAR OLD BOY AND A 14 YEAR OLD BOY WERE IDENTIFIED AND LOCATED A SHORT TIME LATER. ALL THREE WERE BOOKED INTO JUVENILE HALL.

UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES IMPROVE JKB 6/21/10

• UNEMPLOYMENT RATES ACROSS THE STATE ARE IMPROVING AS MORE COUNTIES ARE REPORTING A DECREASE IN JOBLESSNESS.

LAKE COUNTYS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED ONE AND A HALF PERCENTAGE POINTS. FROM 18.6% IN APRIL TO 17.1% IN MAY. MENDOCINO COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS RECORDED AT 10.8%. STATEWIDE UNEMPLOYMENT TOTALED 12.4% IN MAY, DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM 12.5% IN APRIL.

FISH AND GAME YOUNG ANIMAL WARNING JKB 6/21/10

• THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME IS URGING PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS NOT TO HANDLE YOUNG WILD ANIMALS THEY MAY ENCOUNTER.

HIKERS OFTEN SPOT YOUNG WILD ANIMALS AND THINK THEY ARE ORPHANED OR NEED HELP. IN MOST CASES, OFFICIALS REPORT IT IS NEITHER, AND THE ANIMALS SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE. IN 2008 MORE THAN 500 FAWNS WERE TURNED INTO THE CALIFORNIA REHABILITATION FACILITIES BY CONCERNED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. MOST OF THE FAWNS WERE HEALTHY AND DID NOT NEED TO BE RESCUED. ONCE A WILD ANIMAL BABY IS REMOVED FROM ITS MOTHER, IT CAN LOSE THE ABILITY TO SURVIVE IN THE WILD. MANY ANIMALS CAN ALSO TRANSMIT DISEASE TO HUMANS WANTING TO CARE FOR THEM. IF YOU DO ENCOUNTER A WILD BABY ANIMAL THAT YOU BELIEVE TO BE ORPHANED, THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION IS TO LEAVE IT ALONE AND CONTACT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME.

GRAND JURY REPORT ON EVIDENCE ROOM =- JKB 6/21/10

• ACCORDING TO THE MENDOCINO COUNTY GRAND JURY, THE MAIN EVIDENCE STORAGE ROOM IS PACKED TO CAPACITY AND OVER RUN WITH EVIDENCE THAT COULD BE RELEASED OR DESTROYED.

THE JURY FOUND THE 5000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY OVER CROWDED WITH EVIDENCE FROM CLOSED AND ADJUDICATED CASES. IT BLAMED THE CONDITION ON POOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE AND EVIDENCE ROOM STAFF AND RECOMMENDED THE ROUTINE USE OF ONE OF TWO EXISTING FORMS THAT AUTHORIZES THE RELEASE OR DESTRUCTION OF EVIDENCE AFTER IT IS NO LONGER NEEDED. THE GRAND JURY ALSO RECOMMENDED ADDING ANOTHER EVIDENCE TECHNICIAN AND RECRUITING A STUDENT OR VOLUNTEER AS A PART TIME AIDE TO THE EVIDENCE ROOM DEPARTMENT, THAT IS CURRENTLY STAFFED WITH ONLY ONE FULL TIME AND ONE PART TIME EMPLOYEE.

DEEP WATER DRILLING BAN OPPOSED JKB 6/21/10

• A FEDERAL JUDGE IS HEARING ARGUMENTS TODAY FROM COMPANIES SEEKING AN END TO A TEMPORARY BAN ON DEEPWATER OIL DRILLING.

THE 6 MONTH BAN, INSTITUTED BY THE GOVERNMENT LAST MONT, HALTS ALL DRILLING IN WATER MORE THAN 500 FEET DEEP AND PREVENTS NEW PERMITS FROM BEING ISSUED. COMPANIES THAT MAKE THEIR LIVING OFF THE DEEP WATER WELLS ARE SUING, SAYING THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO EVIDENCE THAT EXISTING OPERATIONS POSE A THREAT. GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES SAY THE BAN IS NECESSARY TO ASSESS THE SAFETY AND REGULATION ISSUES AND REDUCE THE RISK OF ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER. AS OF LAST WEEK GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY AS MUCH AS 60,000 BARRELS OR 2.5 MILLION GALLONS OF OIL HAVE BEEN SPILLED INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO SINCE AN EXPLOSION ABOARD THE DEEPWATER HORIZON DRILLING RIG APRILS 20TH.

FIRE IN CHICAGO SUBWAY JKB 6/21/10

• A FIRE AT CHICAGOS CLARK STREET STATION SUBWAY LEFT AT LEAST 12 PEOPLE WITH SMOKE RELATED INJURIES YESTERDAY.

RAILROAD TIES IN A TUNNEL CAUGHT FIRE AFTER APPARENTLY BEING IGNITED BY SPARKS FROM PASSING TRAINS. 5 PEOPLE WERE LISTED IN SERIOUS CONDITION, 4 OTHERS WERE IN STABLE CONDITION AND 3 WERE LISTED IN GOOD CONDITION.

VAN DER SLOOT SAYS HE WAS TRICKED JKB 6/21/10

• ACCUSED KILLER JORAN VAN DER SLOOT SAYS HE WAS TRICKED INTO SIGNING A CONFESSION TO THE MURDER OF 21 YEAR OLD PERUVIAN STUDENT STEPHANY RAMIREZ LAST WEEK.

HE CLAIMS PERUVIAN AUTHORITIES TOLD HIM THAT IF HE SIGNED THE PAPERS, HE WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE NETHERLANDS, AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CONTAINED IN THE DOCUMENT HE SIGNED. VAN DER SLOOT WAS ARRESTED TWICE AS A PRIME SUSPECT IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALABAMA TEENAGER NATALEE HOLLOWAY IN ARUBA IN 2005. HE WAS NEVER CHARGED BECAUSE OF LACK OF EVIDENCE. VAN DER SLOOTS ATTORNEY SAYS THE CONFESSION SHOULD BE THROWN OUT BECAUSE HE WAS NOT PROPERLY REPRESENTED DURINT THE INTERROGATION. PERUVIAN AUTHORITIES SAY THE CONFESSION WAS ACQUIRED LEGALLY. ACCORDING TO THE SIGNED CONFESSION, VA DER SLOOT TOLD AUTHORITIES HE ATTACKED FLORES ON MAY 30TH AFTER SHE READ AN E-MAIL ON HIS COMPUTER CONNECTED WITH THE HOLLOWAY CASE.

BUS SET ON FIRE, KILLS 11 JKB 6/21/10

• AT LEAST 11 PASSENGERS WERE KILLED AND 8 OTHERS INJURED WHEN SUSPECTED GANG MEMBERS SET FIRE TO A MASS TRANSIT BUS IN SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR SUNDAY NIGHT.

WITNESSES SAID PEOPLE ON MOTORCYCLES INTERCEPTED THE BUS, DOUSED IT WITH GASOLINE, LIT IT ON FIRE AND BARRICADED THE DOORS SHUT WITH PEOPLE INSIDE. TEN MINUTES LATER, A 2ND BUS WAS ATTACKED WITH GUNFIRE SEVERAL BLOCKS AWAY. AN 11 YEAR OLD GIRL AND THE BUS DRIVER WERE KILLED. INVESTIGATORS SUSPECT THE BUSSES WERE TARGETED AS REPRISALS AGAINST THE DRIVERS WHO HAD NOT PAID GANG IMPOSED PROTECTION MONEY.