News 8/31/11

MANHUNT UPDATE JKB 8/31/11

• AUTHORITIES HAVE CLOSED THE CAMP ONE CAMPGROUNDS AT JACKSON DEMONSTRATION STATE FOREST AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC FIREWOOD AREAS EAST OF FORT BRAGG AS THE MANHUNT CONTINUES FOR 35 YEAR OLD AARON BASSLER.

BASSLER IS WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHOOTING DEATH OF JERE MELLO ON SATURDAY. INVESTIGATORS ARE ALSO LOOKING INTO POSSIBLE LINKS TO THE SHOOTING DEATH OF 45 YEAR OLD MATTHEW COLEMAN WHO WAS KILLED AUGUST 11TH NEAR WESTPORT. BOTH MEN WERE SHOT WITH A HIGH CALIBER RIFLE. MELO WAS KILLED NEAR AN OPIUM POPPY PATCH BEING TENDED BY BASSLER. NO EVIDENCE OF POPPIES OR MARIJUANA WAS FOUND IN THE AREA WHERE COLEMAN WAS KILLED. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE COMBING THE WOODS WHERE BASSLER WAS KNOWN TO LIVE FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN WARNED TO STAY OUT OF THE ENTIRE JACKSON DEMONSTRATION STATE FOREST AREA NORTH OF HIGHWAY 20 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, AS BASSLER IS CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

REWARD OFFERED IN COLEMAN SHOOTING JKB 8/31/11

• THE MENDOCINO LAND TRUST IS OFFERING A CASH REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST OF A SUSPECT IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF MATTHEW COLEMAN.

COLEMAN WAS A PROPERTY MANAGER AND VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR WITH THE LAND TRUST. HE WAS CLEARING BRUSH IN HIS CAPACITY AS PROPERTY MANAGER WHEN HE WAS SHOT TO DEATH NEAR WESTPORT AUGUST 11TH. THE TRUST HAS SO FAR GATHERED $17,400 IN REWARD MONEY, THROUGH DONATIONS FROM SPONSORS, AND COLEMANS FAMILY, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND COWORKERS. ANY INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE.

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MELO AT TIMBERWOLF STADIUM JKB 8/31/11

• A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR JERE MELO HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR 2 PM SEPTEMBER 2ND AT TIMBERWOLF STADIUM AT FORT BRAGG HIGH SCHOOL.

MELO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CLEARING THE WAY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE STADIUM WHILE SERVING ON THE FORT BRAGG CITY COUNCIL, AND IT HAS BEEN CALLED ONE OF HIS GREATEST LEGACYS TO THE COMMUNITY.

BURGLAR CONFRONTED BY NEIGHBORS JKB 8/31/11

• A UKIAH MAN WAS CONFRONTED BY NEIGHBORS AFTER BREAKING INTO A HOME ON CRESTA DRIVE FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

NEIGHBORS REPORTED HEARING GLASS BREAKING AND DISCOVERED THAT A MAN, LATER IDENTIFIED AS 49YEAR OLD SHAWN MILLER, HAD BROKEN GLASS IN A SIDE DOOR OF THE HOUSE AND FORCED HIS WAY INSIDE. THE NEIGHBORS CONFRONTED HIM WHEN HE RAN OUT OF THE HOUSE. HE REPORTEDLY ASKED THEM NOT TO CALL POLICE AND THEN FLED WITH SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS IN PURSUIT FOR A SHORT WHILE. MILLER WAS LATER SPOTTED BY UKIAH POLICE OFFICERS AT A TRAILER PARK ON NORTH MAIN STREET AND WAS ARRESTED AFTER A SHORT CHASE.

ARMED MAN SOUGHT IN ROBBERY JKB 8/31/11

• HUMBOLDT COUNTY AUTHORITIES ARE SEARCHING FOR AN ARMED MAN IN SEQUOIA PARK, WHO ROBBED A MOTORIST IN EUREKA TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

ACCORDING TO POLICE, THE SUSPECT APPROACHED THE VICTIM AS HE WAS WAITING FOR HIS WIFE NEAR HODGSON AND O STREETS AND ASKED FOR A RIDE. HE THEN PRODUCED A STAINLESS STEEL HANDGUN, TOOK THE VICTIMS WALLET AND FLED. THE VICTIM FOLLOWED THE SUSPECT AND SAW HIM ENTER THE WOODS VIA THE SEQUOIA PARK TRAILHEAD. AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH OF THE AREA FAILED TO LOCATE THE SUSPECT.

SEARCH FOR SUSPECT WHO ASSAULTED OFFICERS JKB 8/31/11

• SANTA ROSA POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A MAN WHO ASSAULTED TWO OFFICERS WITH A SOUVENIR-STYLED BASEBALL BAT MONDAY NIGHT.

THE OFFICERS WERE RESPONDING TO A DISTURBANCE NEAR MARLOW ROAD AT 9:40 PM WHEN THE MAN WIELDING THE BAT ATTACKED THEM. ONE OFFICER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, THE OTHER WAS NOT INJURED. THE SUSPECT WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE ON FOOT, AND AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH USING K-9S AND A HELICOPTER FAILED TO LOCATE HIM. THE MOTIVE FOR THE ATTACK IS UNKNOWN.

PAROLE DENIED JKB 8/31/11

• PAROLE WAS DENIED FOR A FORMER LAKE COUNTY MAN WHO WAS CONVICTED OF 2ND DEGREE MURDER IN 1990.

67 YEAR OLD WARREN PERKINS WAS SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON IN THE SHOTGUN SHOOTING DEATH OF 40 YEAR OLD EDWARD MAHER. ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS, PERKINS WAS ANGRY WITH MAHER FOR FIRING HIM FROM A CONSTRUCTION JOB DUE TO MISCONDUCT. PERKINS CLAIMED HE SHOT MAHER ACCIDENTALLY WHEN HE GRABBED THE GUN, BUT FORENSICS SHOWED THE FATAL BLAST CAME FROM AT LEAST 6 FEET AWAY. PERKINS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE AGAIN UNTIL THE YEAR 2016.

DUI CRASH ARREST JKB 8/31/11

• A UKIAH FAMILY GOT A RUDE AWAKENING WHEN A CAR DESTROYED THEIR CAR PORT EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.

ACCORDING TO POLICE, 22 YEAR OLD STEPHANIE GREEN WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON MAIN STREET TOWARD GOBBIE STREET AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL, RAN OVER A STOP SIGN, TOOK OUT A ROW OF MAILBOXES AND CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE, BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE CARPORT ON PORZIO LANE, CAUSING IT TO COLLAPSE JUST BEFORE 2 AM. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE INCIDENT. GREEN WAS ARRESTED FOR DUI AND VIOLATION OF PROBATION.

NEW CEO FOR UVMC JKB 8/31/11

• THE UKIAH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER HAS A NEW CEO.

GWEN MATHEWS, THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF PATIENT SERVICES OF ADVENTIST HOSPITAL IN GLENDALE HAS ACCEPTED THE POSITION OF CEO FOR THE HOSPITAL AND AS SR. VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NETWORK. MATHEWS CARRIES THE ENDORSEMENT OF FORMER CEO TERRY BURNS, AND VICE PRESIDENT OF PATIENT CARE AND LEAD ADMINISTRATOR JERRY CHANEY. SHE WILL BEGIN HER NEW ASSIGNMENT AT UVMC ON OCTOBER 3RD.

Playlist 9/1/11

BAD MEETS EVIL-LIGHTERS

BRITNEY SPEARS-I WANNA GO

HOT CHELLE RAE-TONIGHT TONIGHT

KATY PERRY-LAST FRIDAY (T.G.I.F.)

LIL’ WAYNE-HOW TO LOVE

NICKI MINAJ-SUPER BASS

AFROJACK W/EVA SIMONS-TAKE OVER CONTROL

ANDY GRAMMER-KEEP YOUR HEAD UP

COBRA STARSHIP W/SABI-YOU MAKE ME FEEL…

COLDPLAY-EVERY TEARDROP IS A WATERFALL

DEV-IN THE DARK

FOSTER THE PEOPLE-PUMPED UP KICKS

GYM CLASS HEROES W/ADAM LEVINE-STEREO HEARTS

IYAZ-PRETTY GIRLZ

KELLY ROWLAND W/LIL WAYNE-MOTIVATION

LADY GAGA-YOU AND I

MAROON 5 W/CHRISTINA AGUILERA-MOVES LIKE JAGGER

PITBULL W/MARC ANTHONY-RAIN OVER ME

RIHANNA-CHEERS (DRINK TO THAT)

THE SCRIPT-NOTHING

ADELE-SOMEONE LIKE YOU

ALEXANDRA STAN-MR. SAXOBEAT

CODY SIMPSON-ON MY MIND

MATT NATHANSON-FASTER

NEW BOYZ W/CHRIS BROWN-BETTER WITH THE LIGHTS OFF

TINIE TEMPAH W/WIZ KHALIFA-TILL I’M GONE

BREATHE CAROLINA-BLACKOUT

DEMI LAVATO-SKYSCRAPER

JASON DERULO-IT GIRL

LONG-REEF-LONELY

SKYLAR GREY-INVISIBLE

SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA-SAVE THE WORLD

News 8/30/11

SEARCH CONTINUES IN MELO SHOOTING JKB 8/30/11

• THE SEARCH IS CONTINUING FOR 35 YEAR OLD AARON BASSLER IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF LONGTIME FORT BRAGG CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JERE MELO.

BASSLER IS CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS. AUTHORITIES SAY HE HAD BEEN LIVING IN THE WOODS FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS TENDING A LARGE PATCH OF OPIUM POPPY PLANTS. MELO, WORKING AS A SECURITY CONTRACTOR ON PRIVATE TIMBER COMPANY PROPERTY WAS IN THE AREA WITH ANOTHER MAN LOOKING FOR ILLEGAL MARIJUANA GARDENS WHEN HE WAS SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES WITH A HIGH CALIBER RIFLE ON SATURDAY. ACCORDING TO POLICE, MELOS UNIDENTIFIED COMPANION FIRED BACK AND FLED. MELO WAS UNARMED. IT IS UNKNOWN IF BASSLER WAS STRUCK BY THE RETURNED FIRE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ENCOURAGED NOT TO TRY TO CONTACT BASSLER, BUT TO INFORM THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY.

IN RELATED NEWS, THE FAMILY OF AARON BASSLER SAY THEY TRIED FOR YEARS TO GET HIM HELP FOR WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS INCREASINGLY THREATENING AND ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, BUT AUTHORITIES COULD NOT OR WOULD NOT INTERVENE ON THE FAMILYS REQUEST.

MEANWHILE, PASSENGER SERVICE ON THE SKUNK TRAIN WILL RESUME TODAY OR TOMORROW. ALL REGULAR DEPARTURES WERE CANCELED IN THE WAKE OF SATURDAYS FATAL SHOOTING.

FATAL ACCIDENT J KB 8/30/11

• ONE MAN WAS KILLED AND TWO WERE INJURED IN A SOLO VEHICLE CRASH NEAR HOPLAND EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.

ACCORDING TO THE CHP, 29 YEAR OLD CODY FISHER OF UKIAH WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON BUS MCGALL ROAD SOUTH OF LANE DRIVE WHEN FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, HE ALLOWED HIS PICK UP TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY AT AROUND 2:30 AM. IT OVERTURNED DOWN A DIRT AND GRASS EMBANKMENT AND IT ROOF STRUCK A TREE. FISHER AND A 35 YEAR OLD PASSENGER ESCAPED WITH ONLY MINOR INJURIES. A 30 YEAR OLD POWAY CALIFORNIA MAN DIED AT THE SCENE. FISHER WAS MEDICALLY CLEARED AT THE UKIAH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER AND ARRESTED FOR VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER AND DUI.

MOTORCYCLE FATALITY JKB 8/30/11

• A KELSEYVILLE MAN DIED AFTER HIS MOTORCYCLE COLLIDED WITH A CAR AT THE INTERSECTION OF PARK DRIVE AND SODA BAY ROAD YESTERDAY MORNING.

ACCORDING TO THE CHP, A MOTORCYCLE BEING RIDDEN BY 57 YEAR OLD DAVID CRISWELL COLLIDED WITH A CAR BEING DRIVEN BY 47 YEAR OLD PATRICK DONLEY OF WALNUT CREEK AT 10:35 AM. CRISWELL WAS AIRLIFTED TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WHERE HE LATER DIED OF HIS INJURIES. DONLEY AND A PASSENGER IN HIS CAR WERE NOT INJURED.

TWO HURT WHEN PLANE LANDS ON HIGHWAY JKB 8/30/11

• AS MANY AS FOUR PEOPLE WERE INJURED WHEN A SMALL PLANE MADE A CRASH LANDING IN NAPA COUNTY ON SUNDAY STRIKING A CAR IN THE PROCESS.

THE PLANE, IDENTIFIED AS A SINGLE ENGINE BEECH AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AND MADE A GEAR UP BELLY LANDING AT THE NAPA COUNTY AIRPORT AND SKIDDED ONTO A HIGHWAY, WHERE IT STRUCK THE BACK OF A PASSING VEHICLE AT 12:37 PM. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND TWO IN THE PLANE AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. THE CAR OCCUPANTS SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. AUTHORITIES DID NOT KNOW THE EXTENT OF INJURIES SUFFERED BY THOSE IN THE PLANE. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER BANKS DIES JKB 8/30/11

• FORMER MAYOR OF UKIAH AND LONGTIME MENDOCINO COUNTY SUPERVISOR ERNEST BANKER DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES ON SUNDAY.

BANKER SERVED 8YEARS ON THE UKIAH CITY COUNCIL, DURING WHICH TIME HE WAS MAYOR TWICE. THE THEN WENT ON TO SERVE 16 YEARS AS THE COUNTYS 2ND DISTRICT SUPERVISOR. BANKER WAS 90 YEARS OLD.

DUI CHECKPOINT NETS 4 ARRESTS JKB 8/30/11

• THE LAKE COUNTY AREA CHP MADE FOUR ARRESTS DURING A DUI CHECKPOINT ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

OFFICERS STOPPED MORE THAN 200 CARS AT THE CHECKPOINT HELD ON HIGHWAY 53 NORTH OF HIGHWAY 29 IN LOWER LAKE. THE SOBRIETY OF SEVEN DRIVERS WERE CHECKED WITH ONE DRIVER BEING ARRESTED FOR DUI, WHILE THREE OTHERS WERE CITED FOR NOT BEING PROPERLY LICENSED.

LAKE COUNTY COURT CONSIDERS MORE DAYS OFF TO SAVE MONEY JKB 8/30/11

• JUST A WEEK AFTER THE MENDOCINO SUPERIOR COURT ANNOUNCED THAT IS WAS CUTTING COURT CLERK HOURS TO SAVE MONEY, THE LAKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT IS CONSIDERING CLOSING CLERK OFFICES AND COURTROOMS FOR 13 ADDITIONAL DAYS DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR TO TRIM BUDGET COSTS.

THE 13 DAYS WOULD BE UNPAID FURLOUGH DAYS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, BUT WOULD NOT BE ENACTED UNTIL AFTER A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS ON SEPTEMBER 12TH. THE CLOSURE DAYS WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED JUDICIAL HOLIDAYS FOR THE PURPOSES OF FILING DEADLINES AND OTHER TIME REQUIREMENTS.

SURVEY NEEDED FOR BROADBAND JKB 8/30/11

• THE BROADBAND ALLIANCE OF MENDOCINO COUNTY IS ASKING ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WHO CANNOT GET HIGH SPEED INTERNET TO TAKE THE INTERNET ACCESS SURVEY.

THE SURVEY IS A VITAL STEP IN COLLECTING DATA THAT WILL BE USED TO JUSTIFY BRINGING BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS TO ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTY, WHEN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT IS REQUESTED. THE SURVEY TAKES ONLY A FEW MINUTES TO COMPLETE. IT CAN BE FOUND AT MENDOCINOBROADBAND.NET AND IS COMPATIBLE WITH DIAL UP.

News 8/29/11

JERE MELO SHOT AND KILLED NEAR FORT BRAGG JKB 8/29/11

• CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND FORMER MAYOR OF FORT BRAGG, JERE MELO WAS SHOT AND KILLED OVER THE WEEKEND.

A FORT BRAGG AREA TRANSIENT MAN IDENTIFIED AS AARON BASSLER IS BEING SOUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH THE KILLING. HE IS CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS. MELO WAS LOOKING FOR SUSPECTED MARIJUANA OPERATIONS WHILE WORKING AS A SECURITY CONTRACTOR ON PRIVATE TIMBER COMPANY PROPERTY 4 MILES EAST OF FORT BRAGG WHEN HE WAS GUNNED DOWN AT AROUND 10:20 SATURDAY MORNING. A WITNESS WHO WAS WITH MELO WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE AND NOTIFY AUTHORITIES OF THE SHOOTING. MELO WAS SERVING HIS 15TH YEAR ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND HAD SERVED AS MAYOR FOR TWO TERMS.

HIGH SPEED CHASE JKB 8/29/11

• THE DRIVER OF AN SUV WAS ARRESTED AFTER LEADING POLICE ON A HIGH SPEED CHASE FRIDAY NIGHT.

40 YEAR OLD JESUS GARCIA JR. OF EUREKA PAST A CHP OFFICER AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON THE BURKE HILL GRADE ON HIGHWAY 101 AND CONTINUED TO SPEED AT 114 MILES AN HOUR FOR ALMOST A MILE BEFORE PULLING OVER. DURING THE STOP, A DOG RAN OUT OF THE SUV AND INTO THE ROADWAY, CAUSING ENOUGH OF A DISTRACTION THAT GARCIA WAS ABLE TO BET BACK IN THE VEHICLE AND FLEE. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT CHASE, GARCIA STRUCK A PICK UP TRUCK, SENDING IT OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A VINEYARD. THAT DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. AS GARCIA CONTINUED TO FLEE, HE THREW PITCHFORKS OUT OF THE SUVS SUNROOF IN AN ATTEMPT TO STRIKE PURSUING OFFICERS. HE EVENTUALLY ABANDONED HIS VEHICLE AND WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON THE GREEN BRIDGE SOUTH OF HOPLAND. GARCIA WAS ARRESTED FOR A NUMBER OF CHARGES INCLUDING DUI.

AUTISTIC MAN RESCUED JKB 8/29/11

• AN AUTISTIC SANTA ROSA MAN WAS RESCUED AFTER BECOMING LOST IN HOOD MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK IN SONOMA COUNTY LAST THURSDAY.

41 YEAR OLD BLAIR EVANS WAS ABLE TO CALL HIS MOTHER ON A CELL PHONE AND TELL HER THAT HE WAS LOST AT AROUND 4:30 PM. SHE CALLED AUTHORITIES AND A HELICOPTER CREW SPOTTED EVANS AT AROUND 5:15 PM SEVERAL MILES FROM WHERE HE HAD BEGUN HIKING. EVANS WAS DISORIENTED AND TREATED FOR DEHYDRATION, BUT REQUIRED NO FURTHER MEDICAL CARE.

MAN SENTENCED FOR SHOOTING WALL JKB 8/29/11

• A PIERCY MAN WHO WAS SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS IN PRISON LAST WEEK IN LAKE COUNTY FOR THE DRUNKEN DRIVING DEATH OF A LAKEPORT WOMAN LAST SEPTEMBER, WAS SENTENCED TO 2 YEARS IN PRISON FRIDAY FOR SHOOTING A WALL DURING A DOMESTIC DISPUTE IN LATE DECEMBER.

35 YEAR OLD ANTON KLOIBER ADMITTED TO FIRING A SHOTGUN INTO AN INSIDE WALL OF HIS HOME DURING A FIGHT WITH HIS WIFE. DEBRIS FROM THE BLAST HIT THE COUPLES 10 YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK. HE ALSO STRUCK HIS WIFE WITH THE SHOTGUN AND THREATENED TO KILL HER DURING THE INCIDENT. KLOIBER WILL SERVE THE SENTENCES CONCURRENTLY.

GANG FIGHT CHARGES FILED, ARRESTS MADE JKB 8/29/11

• TWO MEN WERE ARRESTED AND TWO OTHERS ARE BEING SOUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH A GANG RELATED BEATING THAT OCCURRED AT THE KONOCTI VISTA CASINO IN EARLY JUNE.

THE LAKE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE FILED THE CHARGES LAST TUESDAY AGAINST 39 YEAR OLD JOSH JOHNSON AND 41 YEAR OLD DANIEL DABBS OF SANTA ROSA, 32 YEAR OLD NICOLAS CARRILLO OF GEYSERVILLE, AND 33 YEAR OLD TIMOTHY BIANCHI OF PETALUMA. THE FOUR MEN ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HELLS ANGELS MOTORCYCLE GANG AND ARE ACCUSED OF ATTACKING A RIVAL VAGOS MOTORCYCLE CLUB MEMBER AT THE CASINO DURING A TATTOO CONVENTION JUNE 4TH. CARRILLO AND BIANCHI WERE ARRESTED ON THURSDAY. JOHNSON AND DABBS REMAIN AT LARGE.

EQUINE HERPES VIRUS FOUND IN SONOMA COUNTY HORSE JKB 8/29/11

• THE DEADLY EQUINE HERPES VIRUS THAT AFFECTED NEARLY TWO DOZEN CALIFORNIA HORSES EARLIER THIS SPRING HAS RESURFACED AGAIN, THIS TIME IN SONOMA COUNTY.

3 HORSES WERE CONFIRMED WITH THE VIRUS AT A SINGLE RANCH AUGUST 23RD AND 24TH. ALL HAVE BEEN QUARANTINED AND ARE BEING TREATED FOR THE DISEASE. AN OUTBREAK IN MAY AT A CUTTING HORSE COMPETITION IN UTAH SICKENED 22 CALIFORNIA HORSES AND KILLED ONE. SEVERAL HORSE RELATED EVENTS, INCLUDING RODEOS AND PARADES WERE CANCELED TO STEM THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE.

STOLEN MOTOR HOME ARREST JKB 8/29/11

• ONE UKIAH MAN WAS ARRESTED AND ANOTHER IS BEING SOUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH A STOLEN MOTOR HOME FOUND PARKED ON LAWS AVENUE LAST WEEK.

DEPUTIES STOPPED TO CHECK OUT THE MOTOR HOME WHEN THEY SAW TWO FEMALE JUVENILES INSIDE SHORTLY BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON WEDNESDAY. AS THEY STOPPED THEIR PATROL CAR, A MALE ADULT FLED OUT THE SIDE DOOR AND ESCAPED. THE MOTOR HOME TURNED OUT TO BE STOLEN OUT OF ACCIDENTAL. 19 YEAR OLD ANTHONY RUDDOCK WAS FOUND HIDING INSIDE. HE WAS ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY. THE JUVENILE GIRLS WERE RELEASED AFTER IT WAS DETERMINED THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THE THEFT. THE MAN WHO FLED WAS IDENTIFIED AS 22 YEAR OLD MICHAEL MUNOZ. HE IS STILL BEING SOUGHT.

News 8/26/11

PRISON LIKELY FOR B OF A BANK ROBBER JKB 8/26/11

• A FORT BRAGG MAN WILL MOST LIKELY BE SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ROBBING A BANK AND A BOOK STORE IN JULY.

51 YEAR OLD FLYNN WASHBURNE WAS ARRESTED AUGUST 8TH 12 DAYS AFTER HE ROBBED THE BANK OF AMERICA ON STATE STREET IN UKIAH. A DAY AFTER THE BANK ROBBERY, WASHBURNE ROBBED A BOOK STORE IN FORT BRAGG WITH A TOY GUN. HE PLEADED GUILTY TO BOTH ROBBERIES A WEEK AFTER BEING CAPTURED, WHILE BRAGGING ABOUT HIS EXPLOITS ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE. WASHBURNE COULD FACE UP TO 8 YEARS IN PRISON WHEN HE IS SENTENCED SEPTEMBER 12TH.

ROBBERY ARRESTS JKB 8/26/11

• THREE PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED ON WEDNESDAY FOR ROBBING A WILLITS MAN OF OXYCODONE, AFTER ATTACKING HIM IN HIS MOTOR HOME.

THE VICTIM, 55 YEAR OLD MARK BERGQUIST REPORTED THAT TWO MEN AND A WOMAN CAME TO HIS MOTOR HOME SHORTLY BEFORE 1:30 PM WEDNESDAY, HIT HIM IN THE HEAD WITH A COFFEE CUP, TRIED TO THROW A SMALL TV AT HIM AND SPRAYED HIM IN THE FACE WITH MACE, BEFORE FORCIBLY TAKING A BOTTLE OF OXYCODONE HE TOOK FOR PAIN FROM HIS POCKET AND FLEEING. WHILE DEPUTIES WERE CONDUCTING THEIR INVESTIGATION, WILLITS POLICE CAPTURED THE SUSPECTS AT A GAS STATION AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAYS 101 AND 20. 26 YEAR OLD DAVID AMADOR OF WILLITS, 30 YEAR OLD SARIESA BOELE OF WALNUT CREEK AND 41 YEAR OLD HARLEE MATTHAEUS OF SANTA ROSA WERE ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF ARMED ROBBERY.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER KNIFE THREATS JKB 8/26/11

• A HEAVILY INTOXICATED MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER ONE OF THE PEOPLE HE THREATENED WITH A KNIFE AT SUNHOUSE PARK IN UKIAH, KNOCKED HIM OUT WITH A SINGLE PUNCH MONDAY AFTERNOON.

39 YEAR OLD DANIEL HOLMES ALLEGEDLY ARRIVED AT THE PARK INTOXICATED AND BEGAN THREATENING 5 OR 6 PEOPLE WITH THE KNIFE JUST BEFORE 1 PM. ONE OF THE WITNESSES PUNCHED HOMES AND KNOCKED HIM TO THE GROUND. RESPONDING POLICE FOUND HOLMES UNCONSCIOUS ON THE GROUND. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE UKIAH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER DUE TO HIS EXTREME INTOXICATION AND LATER ARRESTED.

2ND ROUND OF TOXICOLOGY TESTS ORDERED IN DEATH OF GIRL JKB 8/26/11

• SONOMA COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE ORDERED A 2ND ROUND OF TOXICOLOGY TESTS IN THE DEATH OF A 14 YEAR OLD SANTA ROSA GIRL WHO DIED AFTER DRINKING VODKA AT A SLEEPOVER.

TAKEIMI RAO DIED AFTER SHE AND THREE FRIENDS CONSUMED THE ALCOHOL AT HER HOME JULY 9TH. THE SONOMA COUNTY CORONER SAID HE WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS FROM THE FIRST ROUND OF TESTING AND HAS SENT SAMPLES BACK FOR MORE TESTS. THE 2ND ROUND OF RESULTS IS EXPECTED IN FOUR TO SIX WEEKS.

POT BUST AND ANIMAL CRUELTY JKB 8/26/11

• AUTHORITIES SERVING A SEARCH WARRANT ON A HOME ON MILL CREEK ROAD FOUND NOT ONLY 500 ILLEGALLY GROWN MARIJUANA PLANTS, BUT ALSO A HOST OF ILLEGALLY KEPT WILDLIFE IN DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS.

ALONG WITH THE MARIJUANA, AGENTS FOUND TWO DOMESTICATED WILD BOARS, TWO SNAPPING TURTLES, TWO CALIFORNIA KING SNAKES, AN ALBINO CORN SNAKE, AN AQUARIUM FULL OF HISSING COCKROACHES A GRAY FOX CUB AND BABY RACCOON. MOST OF THE ANIMALS WERE BEING KEPT IN DIRTY CONDITIONS, WITH NO FOOD AND WATER. THREE MEN WERE ARRESTED AT THE SCENE ON CULTIVATION CHARGES. POLICE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR THE MAN WHO RENTS THE PROPERTY, 51 YEAR OLD STEVEN JOHNSON. HE FACES CHARGES OF ANIMAL CRUELTY AND ILLEGALLY KEEPING WILDLIFE WHEN HE IS FOUND.

WILDFIRE IN CLEARLAKE OAKS JKB 8/26/11

• QUICK ACTION BY FIREFIGHTERS KEPT A FAST MOVING WILDFIRE FROM GETTING OUT OF CONTROL IN CLEARLAKE OAKS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

THE BLAZE WAS REPORTED AT 2:16 PM ON THE WESTERN HILLSIDE OF CRESTVIEW DRIVE, JUST NORTH OF MIRA VISTA ROAD. IT BURNED APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 10 ACRES BEFORE BEING BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL ABOUT 40 MINUTES LATER. NO STRUCTURES WERE THREATENED AND THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

HIGHWAY 53 TO BECOME VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY JKB 8/26/11

• HIGHWAY 53 IN CLEARLAKE WILL OFFICIALLY BECOME VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY IN A CEREMONY LATER THIS MORNING.

THE DEDICATION WILL TAKE PLACE AT 10 AM THIS MORNING AT THE AMERICAN LEGION HALL. THE EVENT WILL FEATURE GUEST SPEAKERS AND A BOY SCOUTS COLOR GUARD. ASSEMBLYMAN WES CHESBRO AND CONGRESSMAN MIKE THOMPSON ARE INVITED TO THE EVENT, BUT IT IS NOT KNOWN IF THEY WILL ATTEND OR NOT.

DUI CHECKPOINT AND CHILD SEAT SAFETY CHECK JKB 8/26/11

• THE LAKE COUNTY AREA CHP WILL BE CONDUCTING A SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTY ON SATURDAY.

TRAFFIC PERMITTING, EVERY VEHICLE WILL BE STOPPED AND DRIVERS WILL BE CHECKED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND PROPER LICENSING. THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE CHECKPOINT WILL NOT BE ANNOUNCED UNTIL JUST BEFORE IT GOES INTO OPERATION.

MEANWHILE IN MENDOCINO COUNTY, THE CHP WILL BE HOSING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECK EVENT AT THE WALMART SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT FROM 10 AM TO 2 PM. THE EVENT WILL FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT ALL PARTICIPANTS CAR SEATS ARE PROPERLY INSTALLED.

RDA TO RESTORE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN JKB 8/26/11

• THE UKIAH PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED TO THE UKIAH REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY THAT IT RESTORE POWERS OF EMINENT DOMAIN FOR USE IN LIMITED AREAS.

THE CITY HAD THE USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN, BUT DID NOT USE IT FOR 12 YEARS, AT WHICH TIME IT EXPIRED. EMINENT DOMAIN GIVES THE CITY THE POWER TO FORCE A PROPERTY OWNER TO SELL, PROVIDED A STRICT SET OF REQUIREMENTS ARE MET TO COMBAT PHYSICAL OR ECONOMIC BLIGHT. CITY OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING ENACTING EMINENT DOMAIN POWERS IN DEALING WITH THE ABANDONED PALACE HOTEL, AFTER NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE OWNERS TO SELL THE PROPERTY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE YIELDED NO POSITIVE RESULTS.

News 8/25/11

E-QUAKES RATTLE BAY AREA JKB 8/25/11

• A SERIES OF SMALL EARTHQUAKES RATTLED THE BAY AREA YESTERDAY.

THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT QUAKE MEASURED 3.5 IN MAGNITUDE AND OCCURRED AT 9:57 AM. IT WAS CENTERED 3 MILES NORTH-NORTH EAST OF SAN LEANDRO. A 3.6 MAGNITUDE QUAKE STRUCK THE SAME AREA AT 11:36 AM. THE QUAKES HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED BY A DOZEN AFTERSHOCKS, RANGING IN SIZE FROM 1.0 TO 2.2 IN MAGNITUDE. THERE NO REPORTS OF ANY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OR INJURIES.

LIGHTENING SPARKS FIRES JKB 8/25/11

• YESTERDAY MORNINGS BRIEF STORM SYSTEM GENERATED AT LEAST 100 LIGHTENING STRIKES IN THE MENDOCINO COUNTY AREA, RESULTING IN 4 WILDFIRES.

ALL OF THE FIRES WERE REPORTED TO BE SMALL. ONE LOCATED IN A RUGGED AREA NEAR BOONVILLE WAS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT A HALF ACRE IN SIZE. MORE THAN 100 LIGHTENING STRIKES WERE ALSO REPORTED IN SHASTA TRINITY AND KLAMATH NATIONAL FORESTS. AT LEAST 3 SMALL FIRES WERE REPORTED IN THE KLAMATH AREA.

17th PERSON DIES AT YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK JKB 8/25/11

• ANOTHER PERSON HAS DIED AT YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, THE 17TH DEATH RECORDED THERE THIS YEAR.

23 YEAR OLD RYAN LEEDER OF LOS GATOS APPARENTLY FELL 2500 FEET TO HIS DEATH FROM THE TOP OF HALF DOME ON MONDAY. HIS BODY COULD NOT BE RECOVERED UNTIL TUESDAY. LEEDER WAS HIKING ALONE AND NO ONE AT THE TOP OF HALF DOME SAW HIM FALL. CLIMBERS ASCENDING THE GRANITE FACE REPORTED THE ACCIDENT. THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE DEADLIEST YEARS EVER RECORDED AT THE YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK. THE PARK USUALLY EXPERIENCES 5 OR 6 DEATHS A YEAR.

WILLITS MAN ARRAIGNED FOR ARSON JKB 8/25/11

• A WILLITS MAN WAS ARRAIGNED IN COURT YESTERDAY, CHARGED WITH 19 COUNTS OF ARSON FOR A SERIES OF INTENTIONALLY SET FIRES DATING BACK TO THE 4TH OF JULY.

36 YEAR OLD STEVEN HENSLEY COULD FACE UP TO 30 YEARS IN STATE PRISON IF CONVICTED ON ALL COUNTS. AUTHORITIES SAY HENSLEY WAS IDENTIFIED BY WITNESSES AS BEING PRESENT AT THREE OF THE FIRES. QUICK ACTION BY FIREFIGHTERS KEPT ALL OF THE BLAZES SMALL. THE LARGEST BLACKENED APPROXIMATELY 7 ACRES. WHILE NO STRUCTURES WERE INVOLVED, SEVERAL HOMES AND BUILDING WERE THREATENED BY SOME OF THE FIRES. HENSLEY IS BEING HELD ON HALF A MILLION DOLLARS BAIL, AND A NO BAIL PROBATION VIOLATION.

PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT SENTENCED IN MURDER JKB 8/25/11

• A FORMER PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT AT NAPA STATE HOSPITAL WAS SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN STATE PRISON YESTERDAY FOR THE STRANGLING DEATH OF A HOSPITAL WORKER.

UNDER A PLEA BARGAIN, 38 YEAR OLD JESS WILLARD MASSEY PLEADED NO CONTEST TO MURDER AND AGREED NOT TO APPEAL, IN THE DEATH OF 54 YEAR OLD PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN DONNA GROSS LAST YEAR. MASSEY WAS COMMITTED TO NAPA STATE HOSPITAL IN 1999 AFTER BEING FOUND NOT GUILTY OF BURGLARY BY REASON OF INSANITY.

LAKE COUNTY MAN ADMITS TO ROBBERY AND RAPE IN IDAHO JKB 8/25/11

• A LAKEPORT MAN HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO AN ARMED ROBBERY AND RAPE THAT OCCURRED IN MERIDIAN IDAHO, 30 MILES WEST OF BOISE, LAST DECEMBER.

33 YEAR OLD PAUL NEUMAN ADMITTED TO ROBBING AND RAPING A FEMALE STORE CLERK AT GUNPOINT DECEMBER 10TH. NEUMAN WAS IDENTIFIED AS A SUSPECT THROUGH A DNA MATCH TAKEN FROM A SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT. NEUMAN IS NOW FACING LIFE IN PRISON. HE WILL BE SENTENCED OCTOBER 17TH.

LOCAL SERVICE FOR PITTMAN ANNOUNCED JKB 8/25/11

• A LOCAL FUNERAL SERVICE FOR NAVY SEAL TEAM MEMBER JESSE PITTMAN OF WILLITS HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR NEXT MONTH.

PITTMAN WAS ONE OF 30 U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN WHEN INSURGENTS SHOT DOWN THEIR HELICOPTER AUGUST 6TH. A MILITARY SERVICE FOR PITMANN WILL BE HELD AT THE NORTH ISLAND BASE CHAPEL AT THE NAVAL AIR STATION, NORTH ISLAND CORONADO IN SAN DIEGO NEXT TUESDAY. MILITARY HONORS AND INTERNMENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE FORT ROSENCRANS NATIONAL CEMETERY. THE LOCAL MEMORIAL WILL BE HELD AT THE UKIAH FAIRGROUNDS SEPTEMBER 24TH AT 11 AM. THE PITMANN FAMILY IS ASKING THAT DONATIONS BE SENT TO THE NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION IN LIEU OF FLOWERS.

URDA MAKES LIST OF PROJECTS JKB 8/25/11

• IN AN EFFORT TO GET AS MUCH DONE AS POSSIBLE WHILE THE COURTS DECIDE THE FATE OF REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES STATEWIDE, THE UKIAH REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MET LAST NIGHT TO APPROVE A LIST OF PROJECTS THAT COULD STILL GO FORWARD, DESPITE A FREEZE BEING PLACED ON RDAS TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.

THE LIST OF PROJECTS WILL BE DEEMED AS ENFORCEABLE OBLIGATIONS THE URDA MUST UPHOLD, AND MUST BE POSTED ON THE COUNTYS WEBSITE BY SUNDAY. DOZENS OF PROJECTS ARE ON THE LIST, BUT CITY LEADERS SAY THE HIGHEST PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO PROJECTS SURROUNDING THE REDWOOD BUSINESS PARK INFRASTRUCTURE, WHERE A PROPOSED COSTCO OUTLET IS PLANNED, AND THE RAILROAD DEPOT CLEAN UP.

COURT CLERK OFFICE HOURS CUT JKB 8/25/11

• DUE TO THE ONGOING STATE BUDGET CRISIS, THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR THE COURT CLERKS OFFICE OF THE MENDOCINO SUPERIOR COURT WILL BE SHORTED BY AN HOUR A DAY BEGINNING NOVEMBER 1ST.

THE NEW HOURS WILL BE FROM 8:30 AM UNTIL 3 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND AFFECT BOTH THE UKIAH COURTHOUSE AND TEN MILE COURT BRANCH IN FORT BRAGG. A DOCUMENT DROP BOX WILL BE PROVIDED AT EACH COURT LOCATION TO RECEIVE DOCUMENTS AFTER 3 PM. ALL DOCUMENTS DROPPED BEFORE 4 PM WILL BE RECEIVED AND FILED THE DAY THEY ARE DROPPED. THOSE DELIVERED AFTER 4 PM WILL BE FILED THE FOLLOWING COURT BUSINESS DAY.

CAUSE OF DEATH OF KLAMATH WHALE UNKNOWN JKB 8/25/11

• SCIENTISTS SAY THE CAUSE OF DEATH OF A GRAY WHALE THAT SPENT NEARLY 2 MONTHS IN THE KLAMATH RIVER MAY NEVER BE KNOWN, AS TISSUE SAMPLES TAKEN FROM ITS CARCASS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE MONTHS TO PROCESS.

THE 45 FOOT FEMALE WHALE ENTERED THE RIVER FOR UNKNOWN REASONS WITH HER CALF JUNE 24TH. THE CALF RETURNED TO THE SEA JULY 23RD. THE MOTHER SPENT A TOTAL OF 54 DAYS IN THE RIVER AND THEN DIED AFTER BEACHING ITSELF ON A SANDBAR AUGUST 16TH. SCIENTISTS SAY THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF INJURIES THAT MIGHT SUGGEST THE WHALE HAD BEEN STRUCK BY A BOAT.

News 8/24/11

REWARD OFFERED FOR HIT AND RUN INFO JKB 8/24/11

• A $12,500 REWARD IS BEING OFFERED FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF THE HIT AND RUN DRIVER THAT KILLED A PROMINENT SAN FRANCISCO ATTORNEY AND CIVIL LEADER IN GUERNEVILLE LAST WEEK.

63 YEAR OLD DON CASPER DIED A WEEK AGO SUNDAY WHEN HE WAS HIT BY A WHITE 4 DOOR SUPER CREW CAB FORD F 150 XLT OR LARIAT PICK UP TRUCK, WHILE JOGGING ALONG RIVER ROAD. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE SONOMA COUNTY AREA CHP.

FIRE NEAR ARMSTRONG STATE PARK JKB 8/24/11

• A FIRE BLACKENED 35 ACRES NEAR ARMSTRONG REDWOODS STATE NATURAL RESERVE AND THE AUSTIN CREEK STATE RECREATION AREA IN SONOMA COUNTY YESTERDAY.

A MAN SHOOTING TARGET PRACTICE ON HIS FAMILYS LAND IN MISSION CANYON SPARKED THE FIRE AT AROUND 4 PM. FIREFIGHTERS HAD THE BLAZE CONTAINED BY 6 PM. NO STRUCTURES WERE THREATENED AND THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES.

FIRE AT PROCESSING PLANT FORCES EVACUATIONS JKB 8/24/11

• A FIRE AT A POULTRY PROCESSING PLANT IN PETALUMA FORCED THE EVACUATION OF ABOUT 200 WORKERS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

THE BLAZE BROKE OUT AT AROUND 3:10 PM, IN AN AREA TOWARD THE REAR OF THE 30,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING WHERE LARGE AMOUNTS OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WERE HOUSED. FIREFIGHTERS AND A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING SPRINKLER SYSTEM KEPT THE FLAMES CONTAINED TO A SMALL PORTION OF THE BUILDING. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES.

TWO MEN ARRESTED FOR ROBBERY J KB 8/24/11

• TWO UKIAH MEN WERE ARRESTED AFTER THEY ALLEGEDLY ROBBED A FELLOW BAR PATRON BEHIND THE UKIAH CINEMA 6 MOVIE THEATER EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.

THE VICTIM CALLED POLICE AT 12:39 AM AND REPORTED THAT HE HAD MET 31 YEAR OLD NORMAN WHITE, AND 23 YEAR OLD JON LURAN WHILE DRINKING AT A NEARBY BAR. THE MEN LEFT THE BAR TOGETHER AND WALKED TO THE THEATER. THE VICTIM CLAIMED THAT WAS WHEN WHITE AND LURAN DEMANDED MONEY, HIT HIM AND FLED. WHEN THEY WERE LOCATED LATER, BOTH MEN CLAIMED THE VICTIM HAD ASKED THEM TO OBTAIN ILLEGAL DRUGS.

MEN TRY TO RECLAIM COCAINE FROM SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT JKB 8/24/11

• TWO TEXAS MEN WERE ARRESTED AFTER THEY TRIED TO RECLAIM THEIR COCAINE FROM THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

DEPUTIES CAME INTO POSSESSION OF A PAIR OF MOTORCYCLE SADDLEBAGS AFTER A CITIZEN REPORTED FINDING THEM ON THEIR PROPERTY. INSIDE INVESTIGATORS FOUND THE IDENTIFICATION OF 18 YEAR OLD WINSTON WRIGHT 37 YEAR OLD ADAM BREWER, AN IPAD, 3 SMALL BAGGIES OF COCAINE AND A DIGITAL CAMERA WITH PICTURES OF BREWER SNIFFING A POWDERY WHITE SUBSTANCE OFF HIS HAND. DEPUTIES CALLED A PHONE NUMBER FOR BREWER FOUND INSIDE THE BAGS AND LEFT A MESSAGE SAYING THEY COULD RECLAIM THEIR PROPERTY AT THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT. BOTH MEN WERE ARRESTED WHEN THE ARRIVED AT 1 PM THE NEXT DAY TO RETRIEVE THEIR PROPERTY.

BOMB SQUAD CALLED TO MENDO NATIONAL FOREST TWICE JKB 8/24/11

• A BOMB SQUAD HAD TO BE CALLED OUT TO THE MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST IN GLEN COUNTY TWICE IN THE PAST WEEK AFTER EXPLOSIVE DEVICES WERE FOUND.

A HUNTER FOUND AN AMMUNITION BOX CONTAINING A LIVE HAND GRENADE SOUTH OF ELK CREEK ON SUNDAY. THE BUTTE COUNTY BOMB SQUAD WAS CALLED OUT TO DISPOSE OF THE DEVICE. THEY HAD TO BE CALLED OUT AGAIN WHEN ANOTHER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE WAS FOUND THE NEXT DAY IN THE SAME AREA. NO OTHER DETAILS HAVE BEEN RELEASED, AS THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

SUPERVISORS REZONE PEAR PACKING FACILITY JKB 8/24/11

• MENDOCINO COUNTY SUPERVISORS UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO REZONE THE HISTORIC ALEX R. THOMAS PEAR PACKING PLANT FROM AGRICULTURAL TO INDUSTRIAL TO ALLOW A COMPOSTING OPERATION TO TAKE OVER THE FACILITY.

THE SAVINGS BANK OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, THE OWNER OF THE 15 ACRE PROPERTY AND DEFUNCT PACKING SHEDS, REQUESTED THE REZONING AFTER BEING UNABLE TO FIND AN AGRICULTURAL BUYER. PACIFIC RECYCLING SOLUTIONS, PART OF C&S WASTE SOLUTIONS WANTS TO BUILD A COMPOSTING FACILITY NEAR ITS EXISTING GARBAGE TRANSFER STATION. FINANCIAL TERMS OF THE SALE HAVE NOT BEEN DISCLOSED.

MILITARY SERVICE FOR PITTMAN SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY JKB 8/24/11

• A MILITARY FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD FOR NAVY SEAL TEAM MEMBER JESSE PITTMAN OF WILLITS IN SAN DIEGO ON TUESDAY.

PITTMAN WAS ONE OF 30 U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN WHEN INSURGENTS SHOT DOWN THEIR HELICOPTER AUGUST 6TH. THE SAN DIEGO SERVICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE NORTH ISLAND BASE CHAPEL AT THE NAVAL AIR STATION, NORTH ISLAND CORONADO. MILITARY HONORS AND INTERNMENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE FORT ROSECRANS NATIONAL CEMETERY. A WEST COAST MEMORIAL HONORING ALL OF THOSE WHO DIED IN THE HELICOPTER CRASH WILL BE HELD THE NEXT DAY AT THE ROCK CHURCH IN SAN DIEGO. A LOCAL MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR PITTMAN IS ALSO BEING PLANNED, BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN ANNOUNCED.

Playlist 8/25/11

BAD MEETS EVIL-LIGHTERS

BRITNEY SPEARS-I WANNA GO

HOT CHELLE RAE-TONIGHT TONIGHT

KATY PERRY-LAST FRIDAY (T.G.I.F.)

LIL’ WAYNE-HOW TO LOVE

NICKI MINAJ-SUPER BASS

AFROJACK W/EVA SIMONS-TAKE OVER CONTROL

ANDY GRAMMER-KEEP YOUR HEAD UP

BLACK EYED PEAS-DON’T STOP THE PARTY

COBRA STARSHIP W/SABI-YOU MAKE ME FEEL…

COLDPLAY-EVERY TEARDROP IS A WATERFALL

DAVID GUETTA W/FLO RIDA AND NICKI MINAJ-WHERE THEM GIRLS AT

FOSTER THE PEOPLE-PUMPED UP KICKS

GYM CLASS HEROES W/ADAM LEVINE-STEREO HEARTS

IYAZ-PRETTY GIRLZ

JENNIFER LOPEZ W/LIL’ WAYNE-I’M INTO YOU

KELLY ROWLAND W/LIL WAYNE-MOTIVATION

MAROON 5 W/CHRISTINA AGUILERA-MOVES LIKE JAGGER

PITBULL W/MARC ANTHONY-RAIN OVER ME

RIHANNA-CHEERS (DRINK TO THAT)

ALEXANDRA STAN-MR. SAXOBEAT

DEV-IN THE DARK

LADY GAGA-YOU AND I

MATT NATHANSON-FASTER

THE SCRIPT-NOTHING

TINIE TEMPAH W/WIZ KHALIFA-TILL I’M GONE

ADELE-SOMEONE LIKE YOU

BREATHE CAROLINA-BLACKOUT

CODY SIMPSON-ON MY MIND

DEMI LOVATO-SKYSCRAPER

MONA LISA-DJAY

NEW BOYZ W/CHRIS BROWN-BETTER WITH THE LIGHTS OFF

SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA-SAVE THE WORLD

News 8/23/11

ARSON ARREST JKB 8/23/11

• A WILLITS MAN WAS ARRESTED YESTERDAY IN CONNECTION WITH A SERIES OF ARSON FIRES IN THE WILLITS AND REDWOOD VALLEY AREAS.

36 YEAR OLD STEVEN GENE HENSLEY WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY JUST BEFORE NOON. CAL FIRE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ARREST LATE YESTERDAY, BUT WOULD NOT RELEASE ANY OTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION.

MAN ARRESTED FOR THREATS JKB 8/23/11

• A LAYTONVILLE MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER THREATENING HIS GREAT GRANDMOTHER WITH A HANDGUN ON SATURDAY.

ACCORDING TO THE 75 YEAR OLD VICTIM, PAULINE SANDERSON, 18 YEAR OLD BRANDON LANGENDERFER AWAKENED HER AND DEMANDED SHE MAKE HIM A MEAL AT AROUND 11 AM. WHILE SANDERSON WAS PREPARING FOOD, LANGENDERFER BECAME INCREASINGLY AGITATED AND DEMANDED SHE GIVE HIM HER SOCIAL SECURITY MONEY AT GUNPOINT, USING A HANDGUN STOLEN FROM SANDERSONS GUN SAFE. HE ALSO THREATENED TO KILL EVERYONE IN THE HOME. AT ONE POINT, LANGENDERFER STOLE SANDERSONS CAR AND LEFT. POLICE WERE CALLED AND HE WAS DISARMED BY ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER WHEN HE RETURNED A SHORT TIME LATER. HE THEN FLED AND HID IN THE WOODS SURROUNDING THE HOME. DEPUTIES FOUND HIM HIDING IN THE BRUSH AND HE WAS ARRESTED. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE INCIDENT.

VANDALISM CLOSES SKATE PARK JKB 8/23/11

• THE UKIAH SKATE PARK IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO VANDALISM.

A LARGE AMOUNT OF GRAFFITI WAS DISCOVERED SUNDAY MORNING, AND IS BELIEVED TO HAVE OCCURRED SOMETIME SATURDAY NIGHT. THE PARK WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL THE CLEAN UP IS COMPLETE. CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY DO NOT BELIEVE PARK USERS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TAGGING. INCIDENTS OF SIMILAR TYPES OF VANDALISM WERE REPORTED IN THE 200 BLOCK OF LOW GAP ROAD, THE 100 BLOCK OF EAST SMITH STREET AND THE 300 BLOCK OF NORTH SCHOOL STREET.

ASSAULT ARREST JKB 8/23/11

• A COVELO MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER BEATING ANOTHER MAN SATURDAY MORNING.

29 YEAR OLD BRITTON AZBILL JR WAS FOUND TO BE INTOXICATED AND WANTED ON A NO BAIL PAROLE VIOLATION WHEN HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY SHORTLY AFTER THE 11AM INCIDENT. HIS VICTIM, 49 YEAR OLD TIMOTHY JOHNSON, SUFFERED GREAT BODILY INJURY AND REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT.

ARCATA PASTOR SENTENCE FOR SEX CRIMES JKB 8/23/11

• A FORMER ARCATA PASTOR WAS SENTENCED YESTERDAY TO THE MAXIMUM TERM POSSIBLE FOR THE ONGOING SEXUAL ABUSE OF HIS ADOPTED DAUGHTER.

50 YEAR OLD DINO CARDELLI PLEADED GUILTY TO THE ABUSE, ALONG WITH CHARGES OF ATTEMPTING TO DISSUADE A WITNESS AND 25 COUNTS OF VIOLATING A COURT ORDER NOT TO CONTACT HIS VICTIM, A DAY BEFORE HIS CASE WAS TO GO TO TRAIL. ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS, CARDELLI ADOPTED THE DAUGHTER AT AGE 5 AND BEGAN MOLESTING HER AT AGE 13 USING BIBLE PASSAGES TO GET HER TO AGREE TO HIS ADVANCES. HUMBOLDT SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE BRUCE WATSON SENTENCED CARDELLI TO 18 YEARS IN STATE PRISON.

PIERCY MAN SENTENCED IN TRAFFIC DEATH JKB 8/23/11

• A PIERCY MAN WHO PLEADED GUILTY LAST MONTH TO GROSS VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER WHILE INTOXICATED WAS SENTENCED YESTERDAY TO THE AGREED UPON TERM OF 7 YEARS IN STATE PRISON.

35 YEAR OLD ANTON TIMOTHY KLOIBER ADMITTED TO BEING DRUNK WHEN HE ALLOWED HIS SUV TO CROSS THE CENTERLINE ON HIGHWAY 20 AND COLLIDE WITH A PICK UP TRUCK BEING DRIVEN BY 52 YEAR OLD KIMBERLEE WESTBAY OF LAKEPORT SEPTEMBER 24TH OF LAST YEAR. WESTBAY DIED AT THE SCENE. THE DRIVER OF A 2ND VEHICLE KLOIBER HIT WAS ALSO INJURED. KLOIBER WILL BE SENTENCED FRIDAY IN MENDOCINO COUNTY FOR 2 COUNTS OF THE NEGLIGENT DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM STEMMING FROM SEPARATE INCIDENTS IN DECEMBER.

FORMER VFW COMMANDER SENTENCED FOR THEFT JKB 8/23/11

· THE FORMER COMMANDER OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 2015 IN LAKE COUNTY WAS SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS IN STATE PRISON YESTERDAY FOR STEALING MONEY FROM HIS BROTHER IN LAW AND WIFE, AND THEN REPLACING THE MONEY WITH COUNTERFEIT BILLS.

57 YEAR OLD ROBERT DEPPE COULD HAVE FACED LIFE IN PRISON BECAUSE HE WAS A 3 STRIKES CANDIDATE. PROSECUTORS SAY DEPPE TOOK EIGHT $100 BILLS AND FIVE $20 BILLS FROM HIS BROTHER IN LAW WHO LIVED WITH HIM, AND TWO $100 BILLS FROM HIS WIFES PURSE, PUTTING FAKE BILLS IN THEIR PLACE. LAST YEAR, DEPPE WAS ACCUSED OF HAVING FALSIFIED A VIETNAM SERVICE RECORD IN ORDER TO BECOME THE COMMANDER OF THE VFW POST. HE RESIGNED OVER THE ALLEGATIONS.

PLANNING COMMISSION TO DISCUSS EMINENT DOMAIN JKB 8/23/11

· UKIAHS REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY WILL SEE THE PLANNING COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION OF RESTORING THE POWERS OF EMINENT DOMAIN AT THEIR MEETING ON WEDNESDAY.

THE UKIAH CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING ENACTING EMINENT DOMAIN POWERS TO DEAL WITH THE LONG ABANDONED PALACE HOTEL AND OTHER DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. CITY OFFICIALS SAY THE EMINENT DOMAIN POWERS WERE BE LIMITED TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ONLY. THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 6 PM IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

News 8/19/11

3 KILLED IN LATE NIGHT ACCIDENT JKB 8/19/11

• 3 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 4 OTHERS INJURED IN A CRASH ON MERRITT ROAD IN LAKE COUNTY LATE LAST NIGHT.

ACCORDING TO THE CHP, A PICK UP TRUCK HOLDING 7 OCCUPANTS OVERTURNED AT AROUND 11 PM BETWEEN RENFRO ROAD AND SMITH LANE. 3 PEOPLE WERE EJECTED FROM THE TRUCK AND DIED AT THE SCENE. 4 OTHERS ALL SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES. THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK, 23 YEAR OLD JACOBO LOPEZ MEJIA WAS ARRESTED FOR FELONY DUI. THE NAMES OF THE OTHERS INVOLVED HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED.

4 YEAR OLD INJURED IN CROSSWALK JKB 8/19/11

• A 4 YEAR OLD SANTA ROSA BOY WAS SEVERELY INJURED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY A CAR WHILE WALKING IN A CROSSWALK WITH HIS TWIN SISTER, MOTHER AND 6 YEAR OLD SISTER YESTERDAY.

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE DRIVER SPED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AT WEST 9TH AND ROCKWELL PLACE AT AROUND 6 PM, STRUCK THE BOY, AND THEN FLED THE SCENE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. A WITNESS WAS ABLE TO GET THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE AND 22 YEAR OLD MARCO LOPEZ GARCIA WAS ARRESTED A SHORT TIME LATER. THE BOY WAS FLOWN TO CHILDRENS HOSPITAL IN OAKLAND WITH MAJOR LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. NO WORD YET ON HIS CONDITION.

SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MISSING MAN IN S.F. BAY JKB 8/19/11

• THE SEARCH IS CONTINUING FOR A MAN WHO WENT MISSING AFTER THE CANOE HE WAS IN CAPSIZED NEAR TREASURE ISLAND IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY WEDNESDAY.

THE MAN WAS REPORTED MISSING AT AROUND 6:15 PM. COAST GUARD OFFICIALS SAY TWO FRIENDS ABOARD THE CANOE WERE ABLE TO ABLE TO SAFELY SWIM TO SHORE WHEN IT A CAPSIZED. THE MAN, WHO HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED, APPARENTLY CLIMBED BACK ABOARD THE CANOE TO RETRIEVE SOME OF HIS BELONGINGS AND HAS NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE.

FIRE DESTROYS HOMES JKB 8/19/11

• A FIRE DESTROYED TWO HOMES, TWO OUT BUILDINGS AND TWO VEHICLES IN UPPER LAKE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

THE FIRE, WHICH WAS REPORTED JUST BEFORE 2 PM, STARTED IN ONE HOME, SPREAD TO SURROUNDING GRASSES, AND THREATENED SEVERAL OTHER HOMES BEFORE SETTING THE 2ND ONE ABLAZE. THE OCCUPANTS OF BOTH BURNED HOMES WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE WITHOUT INJURY. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED IN ABOUT AN HOUR, BUT THE BURNED HOUSES WERE CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS TRACED TO A LAMP IN A FAMILY ROOM IN A SINGLEWIDE MOBILE HOME.

VEHICLE VANDALISM JKB 8/19/11

• A UKIAH MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER HE ATTACKED A VEHICLE PARKED AT THE REDWOOD HEALTH CLUB WITH A BASEBALL BAT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

31 YEAR OLD JEREMIAH DOUGLAS WAS SEEN DAMAGING THE VEHICLE JUST BEFORE 1 PM. HE FLED PRIOR TO DEPUTIES ARRIVAL. WITNESSES WERE ABLE TO GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF HIS PICK UP TRUCK AND THE DIRECTION HE WAS HEADING. DOUGLAS WAS ARRESTED A FEW MINUTES LATER AFTER BEING STOPPED JUST NORTH OF UKIAH.

MAN ARRESTED FOR THREATS JKB 8/19/11

• A KELSEYVILLE MAN WHO WAS ACQUITTED OF A BRUTAL MURDER WAS ARRESTED AFTER HE THREATENED A LAKE COUNTY SHERIFFS SERGEANT AND HIS FAMILY LAST WEEK.

45 YEAR OLD JOHN GRAY ALLEGEDLY MADE THE THREATS TO THE OFF DUTY SERGEANT AND HIS FAMILY ON WEDNESDAY. A WARRANT WAS ISSUED FOR GRAYS ARREST AND HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT INCIDENT AT HIS HOME LAST FRIDAY. GRAY WAS ARRESTED FOR THE BEATING DEATH OF HIS ROOMMATE, 37 YEAR OLD ERIC JOAQUIN IN FEBRUARY OF 2009. A JURY ACQUITTED HIM OF THE CHARGES LATE LAST YEAR.

SUICIDAL MAN STABS BROTHER JKB 8/19/11

• A SUICIDAL NICE MAN STABBED HIS BROTHER AFTER HE PREVENTED HIM FROM KILLING HIMSELF ON SUNDAY.

27 YEAR OLD RYAN GENTRY WAS STABBED NUMEROUS WHEN HE TRIED TO KEEP 25 YEAR OLD BRANDON GENTRY FROM CUTTING HIS OWN THROAT AT THE MARINA MARKET IN NICE. AFTER STABBING HIS BROTHER, BRANDON THEN ALLEGEDLY PICKED UP A HANDGUN AND THREATENED TO KILL RYAN BEFORE STRIKING HIM WITH THE GUN. BRANDON FLED THE SCENE AND WAS ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER SEVERAL HOURS LATER. RYAN WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF HIS INJURIES.

ASSAULT AND THREAT ARREST JKB 8/19/11

• A UKIAH MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER ASSAULTING HIS SPOUSE AND THEN THREATENING A WITNESS WHO REPORTED THE CRIME LAST WEEK.

26 YEAR OLD ALFREDO ARIAS WAS ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC BATTERY AFTER OFFICERS FORCED THEIR WAY INTO THE HOME OF THE VICTIM LAST WEDNESDAY. BOTH ARIAS AND THE VICTIM REFUSED TO GIVE STATEMENTS AT THE TIME OF HIS ARREST. 4 DAYS LATER, POLICE WERE CALLED BACK TO THE AREA AFTER THE WITNESS WHO FIRST REPORTED THE ASSAULT SAID THEY HAD BEEN THREATENED BY BOTH ARIAS AND VICTIM IF THEIR STATEMENT GIVING TO POLICE REGARDING THE ASSAULT WAS NOT CHANGED. ARIAS WAS ARRESTED AGAIN AND FOUND IN POSSESSION OF A PIPE USED FOR SMOKING METHAMPHETAMINE. HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL ON A NUMBER OF CHARGES.

POT ARREST JKB 8/19/11

• A DOMESTIC DISPUTE, AN EMERGENCY RESTRAINING ORDER AND A MISSING CAR LED TO THE ARREST OF A LAYTONVILLE MAN ON MARIJUANA CHARGES WEDNESDAY.

THE WIFE OF 40 YEAR OLD BRIAN TRIVETT WAS GRANTED AN EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE ORDER WHEN SHE BECAME FEARFUL OF TRIVETTS BEHAVIOR AFTER HE TRIED TO PROVOKER HER INTO A PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION ALL MORNING. TRIVETT SAID HE WAS PREPARING TO LEAVE THE HOUSE IN HIS WIFES CAR WHEN SHE LEFT WITHOUT TELLING HIM. DEPUTIES WERE CALLED WHEN HE SAID HE WANTED TO RETRIEVE LUGGAGE CONTAINING HIS CLOTHING THAT WAS IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. WHEN THE DEPUTIES OPENED THE TRUNK, THEY DISCOVERED 9 POUNDS OF PROCESSED BUD IN TWO SUITCASES INSTEAD. TRIVETT WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO COUNTY JAIL ON A NUMBER OF MARIJUANA RELATED CHARGES.

STATE APPROVES NEW UKIAH COURTHOUSE SITE JKB 8/19/11

• THE STATE PUBLIC WORKS BOARD HAS OFFICIALLY APPROVED THE PROPERTY NEAR THE FORMER RAILROAD DEPOT BUILDING ON PERKINS STREET AS THE LOCATION FOR THE NEW UKIAH COURTHOUSE.

THE DEPOT PROPERTY AND A LOCATION NEAR THE LIBRARY ARE STILL BOTH BEING CONSIDERED AS POTENTIAL SITES FOR THE NEW $119 MILLION DOLLAR COURTHOUSE, BUT THE PAPERWORK FOR THE DEPOT SITE REACHED THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL FIRST. ACCORDING TO BOTH CITY AND STATE OFFICIALS, THE LIBRARY SITE IS THE PREFERRED SITE.

QUAGGA MUSSEL STICKER ARREST JKB 8/1`9/11

• VIGILANT DEPUTIES WITH THE LAKE COUNTY MARINE PATROL DIVISION ARRESTED A BOATER FOR OPERATING A VESSEL ON CLEARLAKE WITHOUT THE REQUIRED QUAGGA MUSSEL INSPECTION STICKER OVER THE WEEKEND.

ROBERT BERRETT WAS ARRESTED AND RELEASED WITH A CITATION ON SATURDAY FOR VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE DESIGNED TO KEEP THE INVASIVE SPECIES OUT OF CLEARLAKE.