News 9/23/10

DEATH TOLL RISES FROM SAN BRUNO BLAST JKB 9/23/10

• THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE SAN BRUNO NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION AND FIRE ROSE TO 7 YESTERDAY AS AUTHORITIES CONFIRMED THE IDENTITIES OF 3 FAMILY MEMBERS WHOS REMAINS WERE FOUND IN THE CHARRED RUINS OF THEIR HOME.

INVESTIGATORS USED DNA TO IDENTIFY 85 YEAR OLD LAVONEE BULLIS, HER 50 YEAR OLD SON GREGORY BULLIS AND HER GRANDSON, 17 YEAR OLD WILLIAM JAMES BULLIS. THE THREE HAD BEEN LISTED AS MISSING SINCE THE SEPTEMBER 9TH BLAST. 4 OTHER PEOPLE DIED IN THE EXPLOSION. 4 PEOPLE REMAIN HOSPITALIZED. THREE OF THEM ARE IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

LAKE COUNT D.A. REPORTS ON OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING JKB 9/23/10

• THE LAKE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO FILE CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST DEPUTY FRANCISCO RIVERO, WHOSE GUN DISCHARGED DURING A DOMESTIC DISPUTE CALL IN FEBRUARY OF 2008.

RIVERO AND ANOTHER DEPUTY WERE CONFRONTING A MAN WHO REPORTEDLY HAD MENTAL ISSUES INSIDE HIS EX-GIRLFRIENDS HOME AND REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH THEIR DEMANDS TO DROP A LARGE CAN OF PEPPER SPRAY AND A LIGHTER HE WAS HOLDING. HE THEN ALLEGEDLY MADE AN AGGRESSIVE GESTURE AND RIVERO FIRED ONE SHOT, WHICH MISSED THE MAN AND LODGED INTO A DOOR FRAME. D.A. INVESTIGATORS SAY DETERMINING THE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE GUN WAS FIRED HAS BEEN COMPLICATED BY THE MENTAL HISTORY OF THE MALE SUBJECT THEY WERE TRYING TO ARREST. BASED ON AVAILABLE EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY OF THOSE INVOLVED, DEPUTY RIVERO WAS JUSTIFIED IN FIRING HIS WEAPON IN SELF DEFENSE, AND THE FIRING OF THE WEAPON APPEARS TO BE FREE OF CRIMINAL INTENT. DEPUTY RIVERO IS CURRENTLY RUNNING FOR THE OFFICE OF SHERIFF IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

DRUG BUST JKB 9/23/10

• A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY LED TO THE ARREST OF A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MAN ON DRUG CHARGES.

A CHP OFFICER PULLED OVER 33 YEAR OLD IAN CHARLES MASON OF JAMUL CALIFORNIA FOR TALKING ON A CELL PHONE TUESDAY. MASON SHOWED SIGNS OF INTOXICATION AND WAS ARRESTED FOR DUI. A SEARCH OF HIS VEHICLE TURNED UP 55 POUNDS OF MANICURED MARIJUANA IN 1 POUND BAGS, AND CLOSE TO $122,000 IN CASH. MASON WAS BOOKED INTO THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY JAIL ON A NUMBER OF POSSESSION AND TRANSPORTATION CHARGES FOR SALE, AS WELL AS DUI.

HAMBURG INVESTIGATED FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS JKB 9/23/10

• MENDOCINO COUNTY 5TH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR CANDIDATE DAN HAMBURG IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE FAIR POLITICAL PRACTICES COMMISSION FOR THE POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING RULES.

THE COMMISSION IS ACTING ON A COMPLAINT FILED BY RETIRED JUDGE WILLIAM MASTERSON, WHO IS A SUPPORTER OF HAMBURGS OPPONENT WENDY ROBERTS. THE COMPLAINT INCLUDES ALLEGATIONS THAT HAMBURG FAILED TO REPORT NON-MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS, DID NOT RETURN CONTRIBUTIONS OF MORE THAN $100 WHEN THE CONTRIBUTORS FAILED TO LIST AN OCCUPATION AND EMPLOYER, FAILED TO FULLY ITEMIZE EXPENDITURES AND FAILED TO REPORT CUMULATIVE TOTALS OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM A SINGLE SOURCE, AS WELL AS OTHER VIOLATIONS. HAMBURG SAYS THE COMPLAINT IS AN EXAMPLE OF CAMPAIGN DIRTY TRICKS AND HARASSMENT BY ONE OF ROBERTS SUPPORTERS. HE ALSO STATED HIS CAMPAIGN BOOKKEEPER IS SEEKING GUIDANCE FROM THE FPPC.

REAL ESTATE AGENT PLEADS GUILTY IN POT HOUSES JKB 9/23/10

• A REAL ESTATE AGENT FROM MILPITAS PLEADED GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT TO CONSPIRING TO COMMIT MAIL FRAUD IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OF 4 HOMES IN FRESNO AND 1 IN WILLITS USED TO GROW MARIJUANA.

60 YEAR OLD MONIQUE LE NGUYEN ADMITTED TO HELPING 5 ALLEGED CO-DEFENDANTS FRAUDULENTLY PURCHASE THE 5 PROPERTIES USING 100% FINANCING FOR MORE THAN $2 MILLION DOLLARS. SHE COULD NOW FACE UP TO 30 YEARS IN STATE PRISON, A FINE OF UP TO $1 MILLION DOLLARS, AND BE REQUIRED TO PAY MORE THAN $600,000 IN RESTITUTION TO LENDERS THAT LOST MONEY WHEN THE PROPERTIES WENT INTO FORECLOSURE. SHE WILL BE SENTENCED IN NOVEMBER. HER 5 ALLEGED CO-CONSPIRATORS HAVE ALL PLEADED NOT GUILTY AND WILL FACE TRIAL IN FEDERAL COURT IN FEBRUARY.

WORK BEGINS ON WILLITS SEWER PLANT JKB 9/23/10

• WORK HAS FINALLY BEGUN ON THE NEW WILLITS SEWER TREATMENT PLANT.

THE C. OVERAA AND COMPANY BEGAN WORK ON THE PLANT LAST WEEK AN HOPES TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE MAJOR RAINY SEASON. MOST OF THE $11.1 MILLION DOLLAR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE NEXT YEAR WITH THE CONTRACT REQUIRING SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION BY DECEMBER OF 2011.

UKIAH BUILDING HEIGHT TO BE DISCUSSED AT MEETING JKB 9/23/10

• THE AIRPORT LAND USE COMMISSION WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING ON MONDAY TO CONSIDER A REQUEST BY THE CITY OF UKIAH TO ALLOW 3 STORY BUILDINGS IN THE PERKINS STREET CORRIDOR.

CITY OFFICIALS MADE THE REQUEST TO ACCOMMODATE THE PROPOSED NEW COURTHOUSE SLATED TO BE BUILT AT ONE OF TWO LOCATIONS OFF PERKINS STREET AND TO BE INCLUDED IN A NEW SET OF ZONING REGULATIONS BEING PROPOSED FOR THE DOWNTOWN AREA. CURRENTLY BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN ARE LIMITED TO 2 STORIES. MONDAYS MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR 2 PM AT THE MENDOCINO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAMBERS ON LOW GAP ROAD.

MISSING DISPATCHER FOUND JKB 9/23/10

• GEORGIA STATE AUTHORITIES SAY THE REMAINS OF A MISSING 911 DISPATCHER THAT GARNERED NATIONAL ATTENTION, HAVE BEEN FOUND 3 AND A HALF YEARS AFTER SHE DISAPPEARED.

THERESA PARKER, WHO WAS 41 AT THE TIME, WAS LAST SEEN LEAVING HER SISTERS HOUSE IN MARCH OF 2007. SHE WORKED AS AN EMERGENCY DISPATCHER FOR WALKER COUNTY. A FARMER IN NEIGHBORING CHATTOOGA COUNTY FOUND A JAWBONE ON MONDAY. USING DENTAL RECORDS OFFICIALS CONFIRMED IT TO BE PARKERS YESTERDAY. SAM PARKER, THERESAS HUSBAND AND A FORMER POLICE SERGEANT WAS CONVICTED LAST YEAR OF HER MURDER, EVEN THOUGH HER BODY HAD NOT YET BEEN FOUND. SO FAR, NO OFFICIAL CAUSE OF DEATH HAS BEEN DETERMINED.

SIMILAC INFANT FORMULA RECALL JKB 9/23/10

• ABBOT LABORATORIES ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THEY HAVE ISSUED A RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 5 MILLION CANS OF CERTAIN SIMILAC-BRAND POWDERED INFANT FORMULA DUE TO BUG CONTAMINATION.

THE PRESENCE OF A SMALL COMMON BEETLE WAS FOUND IN THE PRODUCT PRODUCED AT A MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN STURGIS, MICHIGAN. AUTHORITIES SAY INGESTION OF THE BEETLE COULD CAUSE DISCOMFORT AND IRRITATE THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, CAUSING INFANTS TO LOSE APPETITE. THE COMPANY HAS STOPPED PRODUCTION AND SHIPMENT OF THE AFFECTED FORMULA AND CONTACTED THE FDA TO INITIATE THE RECALL. THE RECALL INCLUDES CERTAIN SIMILAC POWDER PRODUCT LINES THAT COM IN 8 OZ. 12.4 OZ AND 12.9 OZ. CANS. ABBOTT LIQUID FORMULA IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.