UHS Wildcats Pet of the Week FORUM Water Polo ............Page A-3 Our readers write .........Page B-1 ................................Page A-4 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper .......Page A-2 Tomorrow: Sunny, high of 81 degrees 7 58551 69301 0 MONDAY Sept. 17, 2007 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 16 pages, Volume 149 Number 161 email: [email protected] Technology scans forest floors in search of tallest, oldest trees By DOUGLAS FISCHER coast redwood. And if it remains ogy aids in forest management, iden- the forest canopy, giving researchers debate. Most tall tree experts think Contra Costa Times undiscovered to this day, that may tifying the most at-risk spots in the an equally detailed map and a rela- not; some 95 percent of the likely Somewhere deep in an unmapped soon change. forest -- a problematic former log- tively instantaneous way to separate habitat has already been explored. ravine or inaccessible creek bottom Scientists with Save-the- ging road, for instance, or a tract in true titans from mere giants. But redwoods are tough to map, in Northern California hides a secret. Redwoods League are using desperate need of thinning -- and No tree in the world grows taller and the terrain is unforgiving. If it exists -- and it might not -- it advanced new tools to literally scan allowing Save-the-Redwoods and than the California coast redwood. Scientists believe redwoods can would have stood there as long as the the redwood forests of Northern others to prioritize restoration Whether there is a redwood taller grow to beyond 400 feet, and anec- Roman Colosseum is old, yet it has California, hoping to create an ultra- efforts. than the tallest on the books -- the dotal evidence from loggers suggest never attracted much notice. detailed map of the forest floor. Yet the airborne technology car- 379.1-foot Hyperion, discovered and some old-growth trees approached It is the tallest tree in the world, a The goal isn't to find the tallest ries a bonus feature. As it scans the named just last year in Redwood Sequoia sempervirens -- a California tree of the forest. Rather, the technol- ground, it also simultaneously maps National Park -- is a matter of some See TREES, Page A-8 MENDOCINO COUNTY FAIR AND APPLE SHOW Senate bill works to make solar mainstream The Daily Journal Following closely on the heels of the internationally significant Million Solar Roofs bill of 2006, the California Legislature has taken another toward bringing about a mainstream solar power market. Last week the California Senate passed the Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007 (AB 1470-Huffman). The bill would Capitol launch the nation’s largest report solar water heat- from the ing program, cre- Ukiah Daily ating a $250 mil- Journal lion fund to pro- vide rebates to Zack Sampsel/The Daily Journal homeowners and businesses who invest Petaluma resident, Andrew Grabesen, 4, feeds a piece of straw to a goat at the Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show in solar water heating technologies. The Sunday. Goats, cows and other animals were among the many different species on display at the fair. bill aims at creating a world-class, main- stream market for solar water heating Thousands attend fun-filled weekend See SOLAR, Page A-8 By ZACK SAMPSEL The Daily Journal Coastal cleanup he smell of apples, fried food and animals filled the air at the 80th finds flotsam, Tannual Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show Sunday. This year’s event was the best ever jetsam, more more activities and excitement than ever By JESSIE FAULKNER before. At Sunday’s Kids Peddle Tractor The Eureka Times-Standard Pull, Willits native Emily Bishop, 7, sur- EUREKA -- The 9 a.m. crowd gath- prised everyone in attendance as she eas- ered at the foot of Del Norte Street faced ily pulled more than twice her body a slightly different situation than the vol- weight -- 175 pounds to be exact -- an unteers gathering at beaches throughout astonishing 15 feet to take the title. the North Coast as part of California Just as the sun began to creep out of Coastal Cleanup on Saturday. the clouds and blaze down on the fair, Their janitorial task was the trails and which generated some warm tempera- spurs off those trails that has long been tures on the blacktop, a large crowd gath- temporary home to much of Eureka's ered behind the Home Arts Building for homeless population. Eureka police has the family-friendly event. The premise swept the area in recent days advising for the game was simple: pull as much the dwellers to gather their belongings weight as you can in a little trailer behind and leave, the organizers noted. a peddle-powered mini John Deere trac- The debris left behind ranges from tor. Above, pulling more than paper, cardboard and beverage contain- But it was the size of some of the twice her body weight, ers to used syringes and, in some areas, older contestants versus the size of the Emily Bishop, 7, of Willits, what results when people live outside tractors that ultimately gave the petite competes in the Kids without toilet facilities. Bishop the chance to easily ride off with Peddle Tractor Pull the title. The ages of the contestants Sunday. Right, Betsy the See CLEANUP, Page A-8 ranged from 6-12-years-old. cow, owned by Manny “With any good fair it’s all about the Brazil, of Petaluma, food,” said Fort Bragg resident Paul cleans herself off at the Weinetz while scouring down a corn dog cattle and livestock barn. Got family? Sunday. “For being a fair, there’s quite a Betsy was one of the bit of stuff to chose from.” many animals on display And Weinetz’s comments held true as at the fair Sunday. this year the fair was overran with food See FAIR, Page A-8 find activities at ukiahdailyjournal.com Storage, Packing Supplies, UKIAH Local And One-Way Truck Rentals STORAGE & Call 468-0800 For More 468-0800 TRUCK RENTAL Information A-2 – MONDAY, SEPT. 17, 2007 DAILY DIGEST Editor: K.C. Meadows, 468-3526 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] FUNERAL NOTICES POLICE REPORTS The following were compiled from reports prepared [\ He is survived by nas, Joy Beeler of Ukiah; ing and doing the by the Ukiah Police Department. To anonymously JAMES TIMOTHY GAMBEE his daughter, Michelle and Robbi Parker of best I can. When it’s time report crime information, call 463-6205. Gambee, Timothy Gambee- Reuter of Virginia. Many loving for leaving, I hope ARREST -- Juan Barrera, 24, of Pacoima, was arrested on James, 57, of Monterey, Oroville; He leaves two nieces and nephews al- you’ll understand, that I suspicion of driving while under the influence and thief of CA., passed away after a brothers, Bruce and so survive him. If Tim had was born a rambling binder chains in the 1100 block of Mulberry Street at 1:01 a.m. lengthy illness on Kenny Gambee of a favorite song the man.” Tim’s final resting Saturday. September 8th, 2007. He Placerville; and three sis- lyrics would go: “Lord, I place will be forever ARREST -- Gustavo Meza, 25, hometown unknown, was was born May 21, ters and their families; was born a ramblin’ in our hearts. arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence and 1950 in Detroit, Michigan. Sandy Wilson of Sali- man, trying to make a liv- probation violation in the 300 block of South State Street at 7:53 p.m. Saturday. ARREST -- Guillermo Gutierrez-Silva, 21, hometown atingly difficult for our soldiers, Marines, all of our personnel unknown, was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the and their families,” said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. “They deserve influence in 200 block of South State Street at 10:45 p.m. the same amount of time back home as they stay in the field.” Saturday. The world briefly ARREST -- Monica Velez-Vazquez, 18, of Ukiah, was The comments represented the latest political clash over the future course of the war. Last week, President Bush announced arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence in the plans for a limited drawdown but indicated that combat forces 1300 block of North State Street at 11:15 p.m. Saturday. O.J. Simpson arrested, faces multiple would stay in Iraq well past 2008. Those arrested by law enforcement officers are innocent until proven guilty. charges in Vegas robbery With the Senate expected to resume debate this week on anti- People reported as having been arrested may contact the Daily Journal once their LAS VEGAS (AP) — O.J. Simpson was arrested Sunday war legislation, Gates sharpened his criticism of Webb’s pro- case has been concluded so the results can be reported. Those who feel the infor- and faces multiple felony charges in an alleged armed robbery posal. It would require troops get as much time at their home mation is in error should contact the appropriate agency. In the case of those arrest- ed on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant: all DUI cases report- of collectors involving the former football great’s sports mem- station as their deployments to the war front. ed by law enforcement agencies are reported by the newspaper. The Daily Journal orabilia, authorities said. makes no exceptions. Simpson was arrested shortly after 11 a.m., Capt. James Greek conservatives winning Greek Dillon said. Prosecutors were planning to charge Simpson with two elections, despite anger over fires CORRECTIONS counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon, conspiracy to ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s governing conservatives The Ukiah Daily Journal reserves this space to correct errors or make clarifications to commit robbery, burglary with a deadly weapon, two counts of were winning parliamentary elections Sunday, overcoming news articles.