Locals Weigh in on Economy by ROB BURGESS the Daily Journal House of If You Were to Ask Both President George W
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Warriors are REMINISCE rising high SUNDAY Elusive Images photo contest ..........Page A-8 Feb. 3, 2008 ................................Page A-3 INSIDE Mendocino County’s World briefly The Ukiah local newspaper .......Page A-2 Monday: Partly sunny; H 55º L 31º Tuesday: Sun, then clouds; H 56º L 37º $1 tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 42 pages, Volume 149 Number 300 email: [email protected] IS A RECESSION JUST AROUND THE CORNER FOR AMERICA? Locals weigh in on economy By ROB BURGESS The Daily Journal House of If you were to ask both President George W. Bush Burgess and Frank VanVrakan, of Ukiah, how Americans as a whole are feeling about the possibility of a recession, you’d get two completely Is there a different answers. “At kitchen tables across our country, there is concern doctor in about our economic future,” Bush told the nation during the house? his final State of the Union address on Monday. “In the By ROB BURGESS long run, Americans can be The Daily Journal confident about our eco- One of the most exciting nomic growth. But in the things about moving to Ukiah short run, we can all see that was finally getting HBO growth is slowing.” again. VanVraken, a local busi- I’ve had this wonderful ness owner, doesn’t see channel off and on, mostly on, things quite the same way. for the better part of my life. I “Is there a recession?” he truly thank this station for asked rhetorically before injecting fresh batches of out- answering his own ques- standing films and original tion. “There is no reces- programming of every stripe sion.” into my cinephile brain over On a national level, talk the years. of an economic downturn Unfortunately, just as I has overtaken the political excitedly signed up for the dialogue, but Ukiahans say service again, the channel they aren’t feeling the began to fall off in a major MacLeod Pappidas/The Daily Journal effects as much as other Arlis “Missy” Steele, program manager at the Ukiah Chamber of Commerce, sits at the reception desk way. parts of the country -- yet. It all began with the con- on School Street. Chamber CEO Bert Mosier said local businesses aren’t seeing the signs of a full-on “I’m not sure we’re see- recession yet, but that many people are concerned. clusion last year of one of the ing the signs here yet,” said finest shows ever to appear on Bert Mosier, CEO of the television: “The Sopranos.” Ukiah Chamber of haps stave off the first To be fair, several other of the Commerce. “It’s very clear recession since 2001, channel’s crown jewels had that people are worried it according to the Associated been retired in the last few will change though.” Press. years, including “Sex and the Charlene Juszczak, a About two-thirds of the City,” “Six Feet Under” and retired mail worker from tax relief would go out in “The Wire,” which is just Redwood Valley, said she is rebate checks to 117 million starting its last season. The personally feeling the eco- families beginning in May. ending of “The Sopranos” in nomic crunch. Businesses would get $50 particular created a vacuum “I can remember when I billion in incentives. like none other, leaving HBO used to enjoy going to the Individual taxpayers programmers scrambling for grocery store,” she said. would get up to $600 in something, anything to fill the “Now I worry. I remember rebates, working couples void. when $15 could buy a lot of $1,200 and those with chil- Enter “Tell Me You Love food.” dren an additional $300 per Me,” possibly the worst show Mosier said some local child under the agreement. ever made. businesses are recession- In a key concession to I hated this show from the proof, while others aren’t Democrats, 35 million fam- Frank VanVrakan Gary Burica Tamea Fleming first preview I saw for it. quite as lucky. ilies who make at least From the very little I’ve seen “People need basic $3,000 but don’t pay taxes of it, the show revolves necessities,” he said. “The would get $300 rebates. around three pairs of utterly tourism industry will defi- The rebates would phase miserable couples complain- nitely take a hit. We encour- out gradually for individu- ing once a week to an equally age people to find what they als whose adjusted gross navel-gazing therapist. can find in Ukiah.” income exceeds $75,000 The fatal flaw of this show On Friday, Bush toured and for couples with is that it takes its premise Hallmark Cards Inc. in incomes above $150,000. from only the most elemen- Kansas City to push a plan Contributions to IRA and tary understanding of why of tax rebates for millions of 401(k) retirement accounts everyone loved “The people and tax breaks for and health savings accounts Sopranos.” What HBO and companies. The stimulus would not count toward the the makers of this crime package, passed by the income limit. against nature apparently fail House, has hit roadblocks in Bush spoke just hours to understand is that viewers the Senate. after the Labor Department aren’t just hungry for any The one-time tax rebate reported that employers cut therapy show that comes is at the center of a hard- 17,000 jobs in January - the along. Fans of “The won agreement to pump first reduction of this size in Sopranos” may have been about $150 billion into the Charlene Juszczak Willy and Buzz Love Dick Wizmore drawn in by the mobster in economy this year and per- See ECONOMY, Page A-14 See HBO, Page A-4 California salmon collapse roils West Coast fishing industry By TERENCE CHEA thirds of his income. Now, he doesn’t know how the Sacramento River and its tributaries last fall way it manages its increasingly precious water. Associated Press Writer he’s going to pay his bills. was astonishingly low. That could trigger severe “This is an economic rumbling that will go SAN FRANCISCO — Humboldt County “We’ve never been in this situation before,” fishing restrictions and economic hardship for right through every coastal community,” said fisherman Dave Bitts is bracing for another lean said the 59-year-old Bitts. “It’s my bread-and- fishermen and related businesses from Central Rep. Mike Thompson of California’s North year after the sudden collapse of California’s butter, as it is for all my pals. And this year, it California to the Canadian border. Coast. “It’s not just the commercial fishermen most important salmon run. appears our bread-and-butter is not there.” Restaurants and consumers will have to pay that are economically harmed; there are all kinds Like many West Coast fishermen, Bitts Federal fishery regulators said this past week high prices or do without the prized wild salmon, depends on wild “king” salmon for up to two- that the number of chinook salmon returning to and the crash could force the state to change the See SALMON, Page A-14 SaberSaber 95*Per Month FAST DSL for $11 * Terms & conditions apply. 800-989-8851 • www.saber.net A-2 – SUNDAY, FEB. 3, 2008 DAILY DIGEST Editor: Jody Martinez, 468-3517 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected] CORRECTIONS afternoon: 4, 8, 8. FUNERAL NOTICES FANTASY 5: 7, 9, 11, The Ukiah Daily Journal reserves 13, 15. [\ this space to correct errors or make na. memorial donations can area for the past 54 years. clarifications to news articles. DAILY DERBY: 1st WALTER E. BECKWITH Walt was born in Ukiah, be made to: “Walter She is survived by her Significant errors in obituary notices Place: 01, Gold Rush. Walter Edward Beckwith California, January 7, Beckwith Memorial Fund, daughters Maxeen or birth announcements will result in 2nd Place: 07, Eureka. III, also known as 1954. He was an Eagle Rhonda Beckwith Account Plummer and Sandy reprinting the entire article. Errors Scout which led to his #902178” (Golden Thompson of Ukiah, may be reported to the editor, 468- 3rd Place: 03, Hot Shot. Butch, moved on to the 3526. next life January 24, love for the great outdoors 1 Credit Union, 1040 East brother Richard Pruitt of Race time: 1:49.25. 2008 at his home in where his favorite Cypress #A, Redd- Indiana, grand- LOTTO: 10-11-16-35- Redding, California sur- sports were hunting and ing, CA 96002) as it was daughter Franceen Hooker LOTTERY NUMBERS 43. rounded by his loving fami- trout fishing. He en- Walt’s wish to be and husband Meganumber: 9. ly. Walt is survived joyed his annual hunting laid to rest at a family Christopher, grandson DAILY 3: night: 9, 3, 9. Jackpot: $57 million. by his wife Rhonda of 34 trips with his cousins retreat on the river. Billy Plummer, great years, son Steven, in the summers and numer- [\ grandchildren Melissa daughter Dawn, grandson ous fishing trips EILEEN M. STEIN Hooker, Amanda Storm, grand- with his son Steve and Private services will be Hooker, Kyle Plummer, daughters Stephanie and grandson Storm. held for Eileen M. Chase Plummer and Schools, burger chains Baylie, best friend Memorial services will be Stein of Ukiah, who passed Keifer Plummer. She was and brother-in-law Randall held Monday, Feb- away on Wed- preceded in death Edwards, his ruary 4, 12:00 noon at nesday, January 30, 2008 by her husband William H. halt use of beef from mother Stella Beckwith, McDonald’s Funeral at a local hospital. Stein in 1977. stepfather Henry Chapel, 1275 Continental Born Janury 8, 1924 in The Eversole Mortuary Beckwith and sisters Susan St, Redding Califor- Gary, Indiana, Eileen is in charge of ar- Chino slaughterhouse and Kathy Rogi- nia.