Community Weekend COVELO WILDFIRE sports digest entertainment 427-acre fire nearly contained ............Page 7 ..............Page 3 ..................................Page 1 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Tomorrow: Breezy with lots of sunshine 7 58551 69301 0 THURSDAY July 12, 2007 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 16 pages, Volume 149 Number 94 email: [email protected] Supervisors defend travel expenses By KATIE MINTZ travel policy for reimbursements, in the grand jury report that I feel are clusions about expenditures I don’t January 2007, that “claims for unre- The Daily Journal some saying that any apparent abuse erroneous and are misinformed,” think you really can make.” imbursable meetings, functions/ Mendocino County supervisors has been greatly blown out of pro- board Chairwoman Kendall Smith, The report states, based on super- events and miles not actually driven are responding to a recent grand jury portion. who represents the 4th District, said visor expense reports and travel report alleging misuse of the board “A lot of assumptions were made Wednesday. “They’re drawing con- claim forms from July 2005 to See TRAVEL, Page 15 UKIAH CITY COUNCIL HEALING WITH EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES Marijuana growing in city up for discussion By KATIE MINTZ The Daily Journal In a special meeting today, the Ukiah City Council will discuss enforcement of its ordinance related to cultivation of marijuana in city limits and a possible revision to the document. Inclusion of the topic in the meeting, scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 300 Seminary Ave., was suggested by Councilman John McCowen, who said both he and the city have continued to receive complaints about abuse of the city’s provision for growing medical marijuana, and he believes it’s time to consider possible changes. According to the current ordinance, those growing marijuana for medicinal use -- permissible under state law with a doctor’s recommendation -- are limit- ed to growing 12 mature or 24 imma- ture cannabis plants per parcel in the city. Growing must also be done indoors. Violation of the ordinance can result MacLeod Pappidas/The Daily Journal See MARIJUANA, Page 15 Joanne Skywatcher relaxes at her property on Windsong Ridge, on the edge of Greenfield Ranch, her home for 30 years. 427-acre fire Former UHS teacher works to empower individuals By ZACK SAMPSEL stressful situations. abstract thoughts and feelings. near Covelo The Daily Journal “I just love to teach,” she said. “Teaching “Oftentimes when we are injured there is Standing atop a mountain more than 2,000 something of such great value feeds me an emotional aspect that needs attention as feet above sea level, Joann Skywatcher looks emotionally. With teaching, I’d rather not well,” she said. being slowed over her picture-perfect view of Mendocino explain things. I like to get down and do it. From that emotional trauma, Skywatcher Weather helping firefighters County. For many, the location looks like EFT’s the kind of thing you can use every begins her work. She said EFT pays close something from a postcard brought to life. day.” attention to the negative emotional experi- The Daily Journal For Skywatcher, it’s home. Skywatcher said EFT is a healing aid cre- ences that disrupt the meridians that run CalFire firefighters were still battling Skywatcher stands in her yard, calm and ated by Gary Craig, and is based on the through our bodies, and it’s that disruption a 400-acre wildfire near Covelo collected with a smile on her face. She is at ancient principles of acupuncture. She said within all of us, often caused by trauma, Wednesday and expected to have it con- peace and working diligently to help others Craig took his interest in personal improve- that Skywatcher and EFT work to mend. tained by Wednesday night. feel the same way. ment through psychology and turned it into A dedicated and passionate woman, The fire was first reported two miles Skywatcher, a former teacher at Ukiah a way of life. He spent much of his time Skywatcher exudes happiness when prac- west of the Eel River Guard Station near High School, works from her home helping reading and learning alternative healing and ticing EFT. She typically begins the one- Mendocino Pass Road on State Highway others with problems ranging from a fear of therapy techniques until he finally synthe- on-one sessions by diligently writing notes 162 at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday. bees all the way to the emotional stress of sized what he had learned into EFT. while discussing emotions, ideas and feel- The fire burned grass and oak wood- childbirth. She uses Emotional Freedom Some of the techniques that make up ings with her clients. She said the notes land and had spread to 405 acres by 8 Techniques -- think energy psychology -- for EFT include: mantras, deep breathing and help her to remember details and keep p.m. Tuesday. various functions, including empowering her tapping. As well, Skywatcher works one-on- everything organized. Flames briefly threatened some clients, getting rid of panic-inducing phobias one with patients to get deeper into their homes but, due to the efforts of fire- or just teaching them the skills to handle issues and help conceptualize sometimes See EMT, Page 15 fighters, no structures were damaged in the fire. Overnight, the fire spread slightly, and it had reached 427 acres by 8 a.m. Wednesday, at which time it was 75 per- cent contained, according to CalFire reports. Veterinarian says horses were ‘emaciated’ Cool temperatures and light rain Tuesday night helped firefighters con- By BEN BROWN Michelsen testified that he checked over the tain the flames The Daily Journal DENOYER TRIAL horses for injuries and medical problems and One minor injury has been reported in Mendocino County large animal veterinarian rated their body condition on a scale of one to connection with this fire. A firefighter Paul Michelsen testified Wednesday in the ani- evaluate the horses that had been seized from nine. suffered heat-exhaustion and was trans- mal abuse trial of Westport resident James Denoyer’s property. “A one is an extremely thin horse; a nine is an ported to a local hospital for observa- Denoyer. “They were all quite thin, emaciated,” extremely fat horse. A five is an ideal body con- tion. He was later released. Michelsen was contacted in late December of Michelsen said of his first impression of the ani- dition for a horse,” Michelsen said. Firefighters expected to have the fire 2005 by Mendocino County Animal Care and mals. Control veterinarian Bob Shugart and asked to “They appeared to me to be starving,” he said. See HORSES, Page 15 See FIRE, Page 15 Proud Sponsor of... 95*Per Month SaberSaberFAST DSL for $11 Moonlight * Terms & conditions apply. Movie Madness 800-989-8851 • www.saber.net 2 – THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2007 DAILY DIGEST Editor: Jody Martinez, 468-3517 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] FUNERAL NOTICES DEATH NOTICES [\ you think of a loud, invited to attend a memori- survived by Gloria fun-loving, exciting, outgo- al service this Sat- Martinez, his first wife, Linda Louise Mardock, Death notices are free for 64, of Laytonville, died Mendocino County residents. ing guy that lived urday, July 14th, 2007 at daughters Corinna Death notices are limited to life as if every day may be 11:00 AM at Ocean Martinez and Lorelei Si- Saturday, July 7, 2007. name of deceased, hometown, his last. With Ron- View Cemetery, 3975 fuentez, grandchildren Services will be 4 p.m. age, date of death, date, time, ny, you always expected the Broadway in Eureka for Debbie, Sarah, Teena, Friday, at the Laytonville and place of services and the “unexpected”. a graveside service. and Eric, Emily Ybarra, Rodeo Grounds. Arrange- funeral home handling the ments are under the direction arrangements. For information He was full of life and love Following the services his second wife and on how to place a free death which he shared there will be a gathering at his son Edward Martinez, of Anker-Lucier Mortuary. notice please call our editorial with everyone around him. the Riverwood Inn grandchildren Caro- department at 468-3500. Ronny ensured in Phillipsville. In lieu of line, Classie, Fred, that every adventure would flowers a memorial Alexandria, Naiziah, Ma- be a fun and un- contribution can be made riah, and Edward Jr., PAROLE HEARING -- A forgettably crazy time. The to Heart of the Red- Consuelo Martinez, his SHERIFF’S REPORTS parole hearing for convicted two brightest lights woods Community Hospice third wife, as well as broth- The following were murderer James Meinecke has in Ronny’s life were his 464 Maple Lane ers Max, Isaias, El- compiled from reports been scheduled for Sept. 14 nephew David and his Garberville, Ca. 95542. eazar and sister Lucy prepared by the by the California Board of niece Merissa. There are no 923-7276. Maynez. Alex was in Mendocino County Prison Terms. RONALD “RONNY” words to de- [\ the Marines and worked Sheriff’s Office: Meinecke was convicted of LEE BEEBE scribe what the loss of hard all his life. En- BOOKED -- Goldie Ann murder in September of 1989 Ronny was born July 15, Ronny means to his joying his retirement in Escobar, 44, of Ukiah was for the drunken driving death 1959 in Santa Rosa, family and friends. His Santa Barbara, he booked into jail on suspicion of Karla Takahashi. California. Ronny left us memory will be cher- could always be seen in of battery, disorderly conduct Meinecke collided, head- very unexpectedly on ished forever and continue shorts and a t-shirt, and vandalism at 8:07 a.m.