Barry gets one Weekend FORUM step closer to entertainment CSI: Trade deficit The Babe ..............Page 3 ..................................Page 4 .............Page 6 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper ..........Page 2 Tomorrow: Mostly sunny and warm 7 58551 69301 0 THURSDAY April 27, 2006 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 16 pages, Volume 148 Number 18 email: [email protected] CULTURAL TRADITIONS EXPLORED Lawsuit alleges DA Vroman misspent funds Vroman calls it According to the lawsuit, requests made under the a ‘campaign ploy’ California Public Records Act by opponents for information on how forfei- ture funds were spent have By BEN BROWN been “willfully refused” by The Daily Journal Vroman. Mendocino County resi- Biggs said the plaintiffs dents Richard Howland and discovered how the money John Sakowicz have filed a was being spent from employ- lawsuit against Mendocino ees and former employees of County District Attorney the district attorney’s office, Norman Vroman, alleging that but that he would not disclose Vroman misspent asset forfei- their names. ture funds on weapons, Myron Sawicki, candidate silencers and cars for his own for District Attorney, has personal use and that he has brought up many of the same used the funds for his cam- issues mentioned in the law- paign to be reelected District suit during his campaign, and Isaac Eckel/The Daily Journal Attorney. used similar language. Trinity School student muralists and adult artists stand in front of the mural they unveiled Wednesday The suit is being filed A part of the suit asks that afternoon at Trinity School. From left to right, Hiawatha O. Blake (artistic assistant), Barbara T., Tim H., under a civil procedure which asset forfeiture funds be ruled Tiffany H., Alexa Armenta (muralist) Maria A., Arturo M., not pictured Summer K., Angel N. and gives resident taxpayers the public funds and that their Katherine N. right to sue government offi- expenditure be subject to pub- cials if they believe they lic review. waste, give away, or misspend Howland and Sakowicz public money or resources. allege that Vroman has spent Trinity students unveil mural “It is my belief, and the forfeiture money on machine By K.C. MEADOWS “emphasizes the positive,” and teach- helped but were not at the ceremony. belief of many with whom I guns, silencers, police lights have spoken, that the expendi- The Daily Journal es the kids “expression” and According to Ross, all the students and sirens, a Ford Crown With a hearty round of applause “resiliency.” were required to spend 60 hours on ture for fully automatic Victoria, a trip to the Gunsite from their peers, five Trinity School Most of the students told of how the project, which began in January weapons with silencers for Academy for firearms training artists unveiled the school’s first they’d been able to hone their artistic with the help of local artist Alexa use by the district attorney’s and to produce copies of the mural Wednesday. skills while learning about virtually Armenta and her artistic assistant office falls terribly short from 2004/2005 Biennial Report of Created as part of the Rural Mural every major holiday out there. Hiawatha O. Blake. being in the best interest of the DA’s office for use as Project of the county’s Public Health “I learned to mix colors and get in Kathie Smith, project coordinator the people in this county,” campaign advertisements in Department, the mural is affixed touch with my drawing side,”said for Trinity School said the students Howland said in a letter deliv- Vroman’s run for district above a school entrance and is titled, muralist Barbara T. worked weekends, gave up outings ered to the Daily Journal attorney. “Unifying Cultural Traditions.” Arturo M. said painting the mural and activities and really dedicated Wednesday. Howland and Sakowicz The mural is a colorful depiction was “a good way of learning about themselves to doing a great job. Vroman said he had not allege that Vroman printed far of long-time American holidays like other cultures.” They were “very professional and seen the suit and would not more copies of the 2004/2005 Thanksgiving, Christmas, Memorial And Maria A. explained that paint- very artistic,” she said. comment on any allegations Biennial Report than of any Day and the Fourth of July, mixed ing the mural taught her to “move Also at the ceremony was Vicki contained within. previous biennial report, and with traditional holidays of many your problems aside and let your Patterson, director of Nuestra Casa “It’s a cheap, political, that he is using the report as U.S. residents such as the Day of the emotions flow.” and also a practicing cultural anthro- campaign ploy,” Vroman said campaign advertisements. Dead or newer traditions such as Brother and sister Tiffany and Tim pologist, who helped the students of the lawsuit. The report is produced within Kwanzaa. H. said they’d improved their draw- come up with their theme and find “Whenever an elected offi- the District Attorney’s office Elizabeth Ross, from the county’s ing and painting skills during the pro- the symbols they wanted to use. cial acts and spends so irre- and printed with forfeiture Alcohol and Other Drugs Program ject as well. “They have created something sponsibly it becomes political funds. which hosts the rural murals through Three other students, Summer K., meaningful to them and the commu- for every concerned citizen,” The plaintiffs allege the federal grants, said the project Angel N. and Katherine N. also nity,” she said. said Michael Biggs, the report was not published until Petaluma attorney represent- ing Howland and Sakowicz. See SUIT, Page 15 From attic to auction By K.C. MEADOWS Isaac Eckel/The Daily Journal The Daily Journal Bonnie Carter, left, Hoping to raise funds and Paulette Arnold toward a pretty big goal, arrange auction items the School of for their upcoming Performing Arts and Attic to Auction event Cultural Education, which will take place known as SPACE, is on Saturday with having an auction items such as furni- Saturday to which the ture and art work up community has donated for bid to raise money some interesting items. for the School of You could end up Performing Arts and with a turquoise leather Cultural Education’s sofa and love seat, or a new facility. large African sculpture, Isaac Eckel/The Daily Journal or a hand made doll points to two large lighted hardwood display cases with Almost two dozen local citizens spent a recent Saturday at house, or even a ping-pong table. mirrored backs, and cut glass doors donated by Parducci, the Ukiah Fire Department learning techniques to remove vic- All the items thus far have been valued at about formerly from the tasting room. tims from beneath heavy objects. The activity was part of the $20,000 total. Also, there are a number of chairs and tables, paint- Community Emergency Response Team training, which culmi- “We’ll be thrilled if we sell everything for half that,” ings and other decorative items. The auction is aimed at nated in the first class graduating on Wednesday evening. said Paulette Arnold, co-founder of the school. donations only of items worth $50 or more. SPACE is slowly renovating the former St. Mary’s “People are saying they want to make a change,” Catholic Church with it mission-style exterior and Carter explained, “so they’re saying ‘I’ll give it up if Citizens getting certified immense vaulted ceiling into a 200-seat theater and arts you’ll pick it up.’” school. SPACE bought the old church in 1999 for $400,000 By LAURA CLARK jumped from nine to 23 on March So far they’ve spent about $2 million, and with anoth- with money from an anonymous donor. They hope to The Daily Journal 20. er $1 million already in the bank they have $1 million have the entire project completed by Fall of 2008. and CLAUDIA REED That’s the date on which 14 yet to raise. The auction will take place Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. The Willits News Brooktrails residents completed an Hence the auction. at the old church at 508 W. Perkins St. The doors open The number of Brooktrails vol- intensive 20-hour training session “Bricks and mortar” committee member Bonnie at 4 p.m. You can preview the auction items on Friday unteers trained to provide emer- and were administered the Carter has been helping organize donations and says between 4 and 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. gency service before the ambu- California oath designating them people are really coming up with wonderful things. She lances and fire trucks arrive For more information, call SPACE at 462-9370. See CERT, Page 15 2 – THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2006 DAILY DIGEST Editor: K.C. Meadows, 468-3526 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] The world briefly FUNERAL NOTICES [\ Pamela Bettcher & Kelly ing career at Albany Funeral Arrangements by Bettcher of Rohnert Park, Highschool in Albany Ca, Eversole Mortuary. Tina Saunder & Tammy heading the Home Rice, Rumsfeld Senate shifts Lynn Ferrall of Clearlake, Economics Dept. for over [\ Ca. 4 great grandchildren twenty years. Ida was ELEANOR FLORA SMITH Tout new Iraq Iraq funds to and 7 great, great grand- known throughout her life Eleanor Flora Smith, government border patrols children. as the consummate hostess born Eleanor Flora Davis, Arrangements are under and a fabulous party giver. June 9, 1919, passed away BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — WASHINGTON (AP) — RALPH E. BETTCHER the direction of the Eversole Ida is preceded in death Sunday, April 23, 2006 sur- Success in forming a new The Senate voted Wednesday Memorial graveside ser- Mortuary.