Wildcats Weekend DESTINATION: MENDOCINO CO. dominate entertainment Lodging group gets to work .............Page 7 ..............Page 3 .....................................Page 1 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Tomorrow: Plenty of sunshine 7 58551 69301 0 THURSDAY Sept. 21, 2006 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 16 pages, Volume 148 Number 165 email: [email protected] 22-yr-old UKIAH CITY COUNCIL accused of attack Flag decision delayed By KATIE MINTZ with car The Daily Journal ‘I don’t want to come back Whether or not the Ukiah here if I don’t have to. I don’t Allegedly struck City Council will ever come to an agreement on Dave think Ric does either. I don’t woman and then Hull and Ric Piffero’s west- ern hills flagpole is uncer- think anyone does. I wish rammed her car tain, however, councilmem- bers did unanimously agree they would have voted with baby inside Wednesday night to again on it tonight.’ The Daily Journal continue discussion on the Louis Sanchez, 22, of Ukiah, matter. was arrested Monday evening on Hull and Piffero, who own DAVE HULL, on the City Council’s suspicion of multiple felony the 45-foot-tall flagpole at decision to delay a decision on the charges after he allegedly 335 Janix Drive, said a Los attacked a 22-year-old woman Angeles law firm contacted use permit for the 45-foot-tall and struck the car she and a child them Tuesday night and sug- flagpole he and Ric Piffero own were sitting in with his car. gested that the item be held According to reports from the until councilmembers and could not prevent the coun- Mendocino County Sheriff’s the city attorney had time to cil’s decision to deny the per- Office, sheriff’s deputies review legislative history mit since the city’s zoning received a call about 7 p.m. relating to a section of gov- codes do not specifically Monday from the woman, who ernment code thought to pro- address the manner in which was at a house in the 100 block hibit the city from placing a the flag should be displayed. of Oak Knoll Road. She said she restriction on the height of But Hull and Piffero said had been assaulted by Sanchez their flagpole, which stands Wednesday that the intent of at a home in the 300 block of 25 feet taller than allowed the code, clarified in legisla- Norgard Lane. for “accessory structures” in tive history accompanying a The woman, whose name is the city’s municipal code. 2002 Senate bill that pro- being withheld because this is a According to section hibits local government domestic violence case, told 434.5 of government code, agencies from restricting deputies Sanchez had struck her governmental agencies employees from wearing a twice in the face while she was should not adopt any rule, pin of the flag at the work- seated in her car and then broke regulation or ordinance that place, was clear, and that a window on her vehicle with a prevents any person or pri- they should be allowed to beer bottle. vate entity that would other- keep their flag. wise have the legal right to See ARREST, Page 15 “We think it’s clear. display an American flag on People that have reviewed it private property from exer- for us think it’s clear, and cising that right, unless it is even (Rapport) said tonight Students used as an advertising dis- you could very easily inter- play. However, it is also pret it the way we are,” Hull specified that the code said following the council’s ‘saving should not prevent a city decision. from imposing “reasonable The pair had asked for the restrictions as to the time, item to be continued so the lives’ with place and manner of place- information could be ment or display” of an reviewed, but withdrew the American flag when neces- request, and in fact asked the sary for the preservation of council to make a decision their blood the public’s health, safety or on the flagpole Wednesday By LAURA MCCUTCHEON order. Restrictions based night, since Rapport indicat- The Daily Journal solely upon aesthetics are ed he had had time to review Saving lives is “in the blood” prohibited by the code. the new information and of some teens, who do just that At the council’s Aug. 2 would stick by his original by donating a pint of their plas- meeting, City Attorney assessment of the code. ma once or twice a year. David Rapport gave his “When you talk about reg- Anywhere from 50 to 60 stu- opinion on the code, stating ulating the height of struc- dents are expected to take a nee- Daily Journal file photo that while a broad interpreta- tures, how do you deal with a dle in the arm next week at (Above) The Ukiah tion of the suggested find- statute, that if it’s construed Ukiah High School’s semiannual City Council de- ings made to deny the use in a certain way, creates an blood drive. cided Wednesday permit -- such that the flag- exemption for structures Even more will offer their life night to again put pole is not designed in a way which display the American fluid, according to UHS leader- off making a deci- to minimize the visual flag from requirements that ship teacher Bob Dieffenbach. sion on whether impact from the valley floor would apply to that same “On average, we will have 75 or not to grant a 1,600 feet below -- could be structure should it be used to kids come through the door, and use permit to considered solely aesthetics, anywhere from 50 to 60 are able allow Dave Hull in his opinion, the code See FLAG, Page 15 to give blood after they go and Ric Piffero’s through the screening,” 45-foot-tall flag- pole, 25 feet taller Isaac Eckel/The Daily Journal Dieffenbach said, noting certain The Civic Center Council Chambers were packed criteria must be met in order to than allowed by city code, to stay Wednesday with Ukiah citizens awaiting a decision donate. For example, if a stu- on the flagpole. Boy Scout Troop 62 Leader Kevin dent’s iron levels are too low he on the western hillside. Orr and his son Travis, pictured at left, brought or she cannot give blood. along flags in support of the western hill’s flagpole. Asked why they give, Dieffenbach said: “Students do it because they want to give back to their community and they know giving blood really does save lives. It’s one of those tan- MCLA working to make county a ‘destination’ gible things where they know there is always a need, and there Lodging group aims started to be mentioned in that same tions firm Hype House. “People visit minds. are immediate benefits for some- breath as the place to go to get away? here in the summer, and we are try- “This is all really exciting to see body. ... They say one pint saves ‘to put more heads The Mendocino County Lodging ing to help do that year-round.” and be a part of,” said Printha three lives.” Association (MCLA) took its first The meeting was held at Jeriko Worthen of the Little River Inn just That’s why high school senior in beds’ in county step Wednesday in the promotion of Winery in Hopland, where many south of Mendocino. “This has been Erin Anderson does it. By JAMES ARENS Mendocino County as an undiscov- local business owners, county board going on for some time now and now “A lot of it is for saving lives, The Daily Journal ered tourist hot spot year-round. members and commissioners and it’s all being pulled together.” and a lot of people with cancer Sonoma and Napa counties are “We want to put more heads in various city leaders met to empha- The MCLA, which is made up don’t have enough, or the right well-known California tourist desti- beds here in Mendocino County,” size the sincerity of their push to See BLOOD, Page 15 nations. What if Mendocino County said Mark Sejvar of the public rela- have Mendocino County on tourists’ See DESTINATION, Page 15 UP TO 75% OFF Come See Our High Quality Summer Clothing Clearance Children’s Toys & Clothing 463-0628 211 S. State St., Ukiah 2 – THURSDAY, SEPT. 21, 2006 DAILY DIGEST Editor: Jody Martinez, 468-3517 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] FUNERAL NOTICES [\ has been an active member your fond memo- of Missouri , Kim- The world briefly GAIL EVANS GOLDEN of Lakeport ries of Gail, a laugh and a berly Dawson of Portland, Gail Evans Golden, 63, Christian Parish and its smile. OR, Debi Walley of died on September choir. [\ Potter Valley, Davette Venezuela’s Chavez calls Bush ‘the 13, 2006 at her home in Earlier in her life, she MICHAEL JASPER Morrison and husband Lakeport after a was trained as a nurse CARTWRIGHT Michael of Willits, CA, devil,’ accuses U.S. of exploiting people lengthy, vigorous and val- and worked with Hospice Michael passed from this Suzy Nelson and hus- UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Venezuelan President Hugo orous campaign Services of Lake life on Sunday, band Eric of Sacramento, Chavez took his verbal battle with the United States to the floor against cancer. She is sur- County in providing care Sept. 10, 2006 as a result of CA. He is also sur- of the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, calling President vived by her hus- for terminally ill cli- cancer.